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THE 



OLD SAILOR'S JOLLY BOAT, 



LADEN WITH 



TALES AND YARNS 

TO PLEASE ALL HANDS; 



PULLED BY 



WA, $m, 1mm, unit ^atjuK, 



AND STEERED BY 



H. M. BAEKEE, 

AUTHOR OP "jEM BUNT," " NAVAL SKETCHES," ETC. 



ILLUSTRATED WITH STEEL ENGRAVINGS BY GEORGE AND 
ROBERT CRUIXSHANK 



L K D ff : 
WILLOTTGITBY & CO., 22, WARWICK LANE, AND 26, SMITHFIELD; 



/2tT3: 



Pf?4o63 






CONTENTS. 



THE INTRODUCTION • 

The Boatswain's Love Letter; A Tale op the late Chinese 

Eecollections of Service. By a Marine Officer 

Dick Fitton ; A Ghost Story • 

Yarns for all Hands. — The Electioneering Lieutenant 

Tunbridge Wells Election and Captain C. , 

The Ruling Passion 

Anne of Munster ..... 

Harry Patjlet. — An Historical Sketch . . 

A Chapter on Buccaneering .... 

The Power of Conscience . 

Greenwich Hospital » 

The "Wager by Battle . . . 

Calling the "Watch. — A Nautical Reminiscence. • 

Crossing the Line .... 

Captain Gardiner ..... 

lolonois the buccaneer .... 

St. LOO AND THE BoSTONIANS .... 

The Preacher's Horse ...» 
Macnamara Russell ..... 
Jeanette Durand . . . # 

Greenwich Hospital - , on Eas^r Montky • * 



War 



PASS 

1 

3 
50 

52 

63 

70 

74 

76 

164 

244 

253 

258 

259 

267 

273 

276 

278 

287 

290 

293 

294 

324 



1LLUSTKATI0.NS. 



NO. 






FAOB 


1. The Widow's Babby. Frontispiece 


TO FACE 


TITLE 


2. Ornamental Title. 








3. The Boatswain's Love Letter 


. 


. 


7 


4. Jack in Port with his Despak 


hes 


. 


9 


5. Bagging the Tartars '. 


. 


• 


17 


6. Killing the Shark . 


»■••--• 


• 


28 


7. Caught in a Squall 


. 


• 


34 


8. Hot Work in China . 


. 


. 


41 


9. The Boatswain's Wedding . 




. 


50 


10. Dick Fitton and Davy Jones 


. 


. 


57 


11. An Election Spree . 


• 


. 


73 


12. Save me ! — Save me ! 


• 


. 


83 


13. Pontoon Hotel . 


\ _ 


. 


90 


14. Attack on the Pontoon 


. 


. 


97 


15. Eaal Boys 


• 


- 


108 


16. Berrin at the Old Abbey 


. 


. 


121 


17. New Acquaintance 


. 


• • 


123 


18. Death of Tim 


. 


* 


142 


19. Connaught Justice 


. 


» 


149 


20. An Unexpected Visitor 


. 


. 


163 


21. Scattering the Enemy 


• 


* 


173 


22. Calling the Watch . 


- 


268 


23. Crossing the Line 


. 


. 


275 


24. St. Loo and the Bostonians 


. 


. 


287 


25. " Go at him, Jack ;" or, The Preacher's Horse . 


# 


291 



THE OLD SAILORS 




" Jolly-boat boys, away 



Naval Command. 



TO MY KEA.DERS. 

f Introduction to the First Edition.) 
Need I apologise for launching my little bark upon the stream of Time, 
and inviting my kind friends, the Public, to take a cruise with me r No ! 
I feel there is no necessity for it — remembrances of upwards of twenty 
years, in which I have enjoyed a full share of popular favour, induce me 
to believe that my desire to amuse and interest has hitherto been ap- 
preciated. At the same time, the breath of eager expectation fills my sails, 
and bears me on with flattering hope, that I shall still experience the 
generous patronage which has hitherto been extended to me. Hurrah ! 
then, for my Jolly Boat ! Here I shove off — haul in the painter, and down 
with my low. 




Hurrah again ! — stretch out bravely my lads ! Keep your hands and 
sculls in vigorous play, and never miss a single stroke that you can make 
^11. Once more hurrah ! and pull heartily together, so that we may dance 



2 THE OLD SAILOR S JOLLY BOAT. 

gallantly over the waters, though the sprays of human sympathy may some- 
times darken the eyes. Our thwarts shall be merry thoughts, and our 
sheets, though stern sheets, shall provoke to laughter. What our cargo 
will be remains to be seen, but much of it will accord with the Yankee 
entry of " Notions." There shall be no lack of " tough yarns," we have 
plenty of tale " blocks," and a few cases of " choice spirits" down in the 
■' run" — portraits of smart beaux for ladies to wear in their hearts, and 
belles which gentlemen may ring when they please — pictures of life, 
past and present — rough and smooth — ups and downs — now a gale then a 
calm — fair winds in the morning and foul in the afternoon — pleasant breezes 
and sunshine at daylight, but frowning and squally at night. But avast ! 
my old and worthy friend, Ned Duncan, sings an excellent song, which 
exactly suits my view of the thing ; and though neither new nor original, 
yet pleading in extenuation the admirable sentiments conveyed, I am sure 
I shall be pardoned for closing my introduction with it here. 



SONG. 

" Oh ! life is the ocean, and man is the boat, 
That over its surface is destin'd to float ; 
And joy is a cargo so easily storM, 
That he is a fool who takes sorrow on board. 
We all have a taste of the ups and the downs, 
As Fortune dispenses her smiles and her frowns : 
But may we not hope, if she's frowning to-day, 
That to-morrow she '11 lend us the light of her ray. 

« I would not that man without caution should steer, 
'Mid the quicksands — the rocks — that encircle him here : 
Be honour his compass — the needle his mind ; 
Let him keep to truth's course, and dull care leave behind ; 
There's plenty of sunshine, then why choose the shade, 
Half the clouds that come o'er us our own fears have made ; 
"We may go right a-head into joy's smiling bay ! 
Why run from our course to meet trouble half way. 

" Would summer be priz'd for its fruits and its flowers, 
If winter ne'er follow' d with storms, snow, and show ere; 
And do not the brightest of pleasures appear 
Still brighter when checkered by moments of care ? 
I ask not for gold — are there virtues in wealth 
So dear to the heart as contentment and health ? 
Oh ! give me but these, nought can add to my store ; 
Without them — though riches are mine — I am poor." 

Hurrah, then, for my Jolly Boat. — Off she goes. 

The Old Sailo*. 



THE 



BOATSWAIN'S LOVE LETTER: 

A TALE OP THE LATE CHINESE WAR. 



BY THE ATJTHOK OP " JEM BUNT. 



CHAPTER I. 



" Nature is fine in love ; and where 'tis fine, 
It sends some precious instance of itself 
After the thing it loves." 

Hamlet. 



It was a beautiful moonlight evening, and the atmosphere so clear and 
transparent, that minute objects could be plainly denned though at a 
considerable distance ; the air was cool and pleasant, bracing to the 
system, and requiring a smart pace to keep up a warm circulation. 
This was experienced by a fine bold handsome-looking young man its 
naval uniform, who, with a companion about the same age, was walk- 
ing the quarter-deck of the Mercury, a pretty little ship that had been 
purchased in India, by the government, to form one of the armed vessels 
in the expedition to China, and was now lying at anchor off the island 
of Chusan — she mounted sixteen twenty -four pounders, with a crew of 
seventy-six men, commanded by a lieutenant, who had under him foi 
officers, a mate, two middies, a surgeon, and a purser ; and the vessel 
was fitted up either to fight or to carry troops, and as a matter of course 
was styled " Her Majesty's Ship, Mercury." The persons on the 
quarter-deck were the mate, Mr. Wildgust, and one of the midshipmen 
(who had passed his examination at home), Mr. Discroll, between 
whom, though they were not messmates, the most perfect friendship 
and familiarity existed. 

" I cannot for the life of me conjecture, Harry, what can have come 
over the boatswain," said Wildgust. " Since we captured Tingha?, he 
seems to have got a blast from the evil eye ; he moves about like a log 
of wood, and has fallen away in his dimensions, so that his clothes 
hang about him like a purser's shirt on a handspike"— 



4 THE OLD SAILOR 9 

"Or a lobster a moulting," returned the other smartly; "there 
appears to be something pressing heavily upon his mind, the doctor 
declares he is not bodily ill, and we have both tried to get the secret 
out of him." 

" So have I," said the mate, " for I am sorry to see him so miser- 
able ; he is, or rather was, a valuable and smart seaman, but he's 

dragging his anchors to a certainty, and " he stopped short, for his 

servant made his appearance in front of him at that moment, and 
taking between his thumb and finger a straggling lock of hair that 
hung over his forehead, announced, 

"Mr. Pearson, Sir, is below, in your cabin, Sir, and wishes to 
speak to you, Sir, if you could make it convenient to—" 

" Very well," responded the mate, " I will be down directly. The 
boy disappeared. " What can he want, Hurry ? perhaps I shall get 
it out of him now ; keep your eye on the Admiral, my boy — no great 
difficulty on such an evening as this, and watch for the commander's 
coming ; he likes to be hailed a league off." 

The usual " Aye, aye " was given, and the mate descended to his 
cabin, leaving Driscoll in charge of the deck ; he found Pearson 
standing the very image of mute despair, except that he was trying to 
smooth down the rough curly hair that clustered round his brows. 

"I'm come, Mr, Wiidgust "— said the boatswain, still continuing 
the operation, "I am come"— and he pumped up a heavy sigh. 

" Well, I see that you are come," exclaimed the mate good-humour- 
edly ; " and now bring yourself to an anchor, my boy, aud we'll have 
a glass of grog together." 

The boatswain shook his head as he sat down on a camp stool, 
which Wiidgust drew towards the table. " It is not in regard of a 
drop of grog that I'm come, but I feel as if I had a marlin-spike 
sticking in my throat, and another in my heart, and I don't know 
what to make of it." 

"Take a stiff nor- wester and clear your throat," said the mate, 
putting the case bottle and the goblet towards him. 

"I've tried all them sort of things, Mr. Wiidgust," replied Pearson, 
still trying to level his rough hair, which only curled the more from 
the friction ; " but no marlin-spike ever floated in liquid, aud so the 
more grog I swallows, the deeper the thing seems to sink." 

" What devilry was you up to ashore, Pearson ; for I suspect that 
it was something that you fell foul of there which caused your 
showing signals of distress ? come out with it, Pipey, and make as 
clear a conscience as the sound of your call." 

" My conscience, never don't accuse me of any thing wrong, Mr. 
Wiidgust," answered the boatswain. " I did my duty in regard of 
them onfortinate wretches as calls us barbarians, by killing as many 
as I could of them who run away from their guns, the lubbers ; but it 
isn't got nothing to do with that, though the thought did strike me 
when I seed a shoal of heads rolling about, that it would be as well 
to pick up a few of 'em, for spare dead-eyes, in case any of ours 
should be carried away; still I don't think such a thing as that would 



JOLLY BOAT. 5 

be logged down agin me : true enough I've never felt altogether right 
since, but I'm bless'd, Mr. Wildgust, if I can tell what's the matter 
with me, arter all. Them Tartar fellows paid out the slack of a good 
many curses upon us, but it can't be that, or else all hands would bo 
tarred with the same brush ; the doctor says there's nothing the 
matter with my corporal substance, and yet I waste away to a 
natomy." 

" It must be your mind that is troubled, Pearson," asserted the mate, 
*' did you have any adventure ashore ? — Come, drink your grog." 

" Why, for the matter o' that, Mr. Wildgust, we all on us had our 
adweutures, I'm thinking," answered the boatswain ; " but there 
sartinly was one thing I shall never forget, but it's hardly worth 
spinning a yarn about." 

" Let's have it by all means, old boy," requested the mate ; " it will 
serve for nuts to our grog. Here, lay hold of a cheroot — and they're 
getting scarce now— that's it ; heave ahead with your story." 

" Oh, it's a very short un," said the boatswain, with something like 
a groan ; " but-*-Howsomever, Mr, Wildgust, you know I was in the 
town when the troops entered, and them Tartar chaps took to running 
away with what they could lay their grappling-irons on ; nothing was 
too heavy or too hot for them except shot or bagonets, with here and 
there a taste of the cutlash ; and a good many hid themselves in 
private houses, and afterwards plundered the inhabitants who had 
sheltered them. So, as I was taking a bit of a cruise to myself, with 
my chief mate, Jack Moberly, as kept close upon my starboard quarter, 
now and then yawing a little out of his course to pick up any light 
stray article as nobody seemed to own, I heard a loud screaming in 
one of the habitations, and placing Jack as sentry at the door, I claps 
my pistol to the lock and blows it open, when, on entering, three or 
four Tartars ran at me with pikes, but I quieted 'em a little, and then 
handed 'em out to Jack. Still the screaming continued — it was up 
stairs, and consequently away I shinned aloft, cutlash in one hand 
and pistol in the other, and boards a room, when I beheld several more 
Tartar sodgers as had got hold of some young girls and were pulling 
'em about in a very on-English sort of a fashion : so I fires my pistol 
at one of the fellows, who gave a few kicks, and then laid still enough. 
But it was no place to be idle, and therefore I sings out ' war hawse,' 
and rushed forward in the smoke, cutting away from starboard to port 
and from port to starboard, and the lubbers not being able to diskiver 
that I was alone, started off, some down stairs, others out at the 
windows, all except two who stood their ground, and grappled a pretty 
little soul, who, when the thick cleared away gave me such a beseech- 
ing look — oh!" and he sighed, ** if you'd seen that look, Mr. Wildgust! 
Well, it was enough to melt the heart of a grindstone, and dash I 
went at 'em — sarving out slops — and after a goodish tuzzle one struck 
and the other made sail below, where he was picked up by my mate. 
I've seen many beauties in my time, Mr. Wildgust — many beautiful 
women — but I never seed any one as interested me so much as that ero 
poor girl — when she kneeled down at my feet, and catching hold of 



6 THE OLD SAILOR 3 

this hard horny flipper" — he held out his left hand — "she pressed 
upon it more kisses than ever I got from my mother, or had during 
my whole life afore ; and so, Mr. Wildgust, I thought I was but in 
duty bound to give her some on 'em back again ; consequently I lifts 
Iier up, and though you may despise me for it, I couldn't help crying 
like a child along with the poor dear — and all the women came thank- 
ing me — and so I sarves it out all round, old and young, ugly and 
handsome. And then they took me into another room, and there lay a 
fine boy a- dying from a desperate wound in his breast, and an aged 
man dead with his skull split — and the wretched girl with her lingo 
and her voice broken with sobs, gives me to understand, as far as I 
could larn, that it was her father and her brother, slain by the Tartar 
sodgers, and a venerable female as was clinging round the neck of the 
corpse, was her mother ; and the mournful creature again takes my 
hand, and I felt her's all soft and delicate, and though she was rather 
brownish in regard to the colour of her complexion, yet I felt, Mr. 
Wildgust, as I never did afore, and the consarn has never been out of 
my head since, whether snoozing in my hammock at night or out on 
sarvice on broad day-light, and when I looks over the bows as the 
ship lifts to the swell and sees the water trickling down the bright 
copper, it puts me instantly in mind of the tears running down her 
handsome face." 

" I have it ! I have it ! Pipes, by all the trophies of war, I have it," 
exclaimed the mate, scarcely able to refrain from a burst of laughter. 

" I never sees a piece of sinnet," continued the boatswain seriously, 
and disregarding the assertion of the mate — " I never sees a piece of 
sinnet* as doesn't remind me of her long plaited hair." 

" Proof upon proof — oh, 'tis all as plain as a pike-staff," remarked 
the mate. 

" At night, Mr. Wildgust, ah !" he mournfully shook his head, "at 
night then I'm reg'larly in for it," added Pearson, solemnly; " for 
directly I falls asleep I feel such a sort of a kind of a ondescribableness 
come over me as the lady's face seems to approach close to mine, and 
we get to chin-chinning till our noses meet against one another, and 
then I dreams of them kisses — oh ! it's dreadfully onbearable, Mr. 
Wildgust." 

"Ill be your doctor, Pipes," exclaimed the mate, struggling to 
suppress his humour ; " I'll cure you, my boy — you're in love." 

" Now you don't think so, Mr. Wildgust," uttered the boatswain, 
starting up in alarm, and looking earnestly at the young officer. 
*' Never say as it's that, Sir ; for if it is, then Lord have mercy upon 
me, for I'm reg'larly done for ; " and he groaned aloud. 

" Have you ever seen her since, Pearson r" demanded the mate. 

" Never, Sir ; though I own I have been cruising in the neighbour- 
hood, and more than once tried to get into the house ; but the door is 
guarded so closely, and the Admiral's orders are so strong that none 
of them are to be mislested, that I don't care to use force, and yet I 
woudn't mind risking my life to set my eyes on her again." 
* Plaited rope yarna. 



JOLLY BOAT. 7 

" In love— in love, Pipes, and there's no use in denying it," said the 
mate, to the discomforted Pearson, who resumed his seat ; " but as I 
have found out the disease, so I will prescribe the remedy. As you 
cannot clap her alongside, you must write her a letter." 

44 Do what, Mr. Wildgust ? — write her a letter ? — why, she can't 
read English, and I know nothing of Chinese ; how then can I write 
her a chit?" 

" Oh, easy enough," responded the mate ; " Chinese is nothing more 
than hieroglyphics ; that is, a set of figures typical of certain things " 
— the boatswain shook his head. I* Why, Pipes, the old style of 
writing was a lion to represent courage, an elephant for strength, a 
serpent for wisdom, and so on — it's something of the same kind with 
the Chinese ; so what hinders j r ou to get Jem Phillips who painted 
the coat of arms on the fire- buckets and booms, to draw you out a set 
of figures on paper, all ship-shape, as will explain to her — " 

Up sprang the boatswain, snapping his fingers and cutting a caper. 
" A bright thought! — a bright thought! — hurrah! — and I'll do it, Mr. 
Wildgust ; I'll do it ; a bright thought ! a bright thought ! " and off he 
danced out of the cabin, leaving the mate almost convulsed with laughter. 

In less than ten minutes a trio were in close discussion in a small 
apartment down in the fore orlop ; these were the boatswain, his 
chief mate and privy counsellor, Jack Moberly, and Jem Phillips of 
the gunner's crew — grog was on the table, as well as a sheet of paper 
and pen and ink. 

44 I'm regularly bamboozled how to begin, Jack," said Pearson, 
*' though I think I should get on after the first broadside." 

" Why in regard to beginning, Sir," replied Moberly, respectfully, to 
his superior, " I take it you should do as they do in all letters, put the 
latitude and longitude at top, along with the name of the craft ; so if 
Jem would just draw the head of the Queen — God bless her — and 
here's a fourpenny bit as Poll guv me hanging to my watch-chain to 
copy from, and then rig out a ship — a smart-un too, Jem, with ensign 
and pennant flying, so as they may know she's a man-of-war ; and 
then a little further on a figure of Marcury, why that ull be plain 
enough for anybody to read — ' Her Majesty's Ship Marcury'— but dout 
forget the pennant, Jem, and lay down an anchor underneath, to 
say as she's at anchor." 

Phillips went to work, and where the date is placed in a letter 
drew the required objects. 

" Good," said the boatswain. " And now, instead of 'Dear Lady,' or 
' Dear Miss,' begin again with a pictur of myself making a bow to the 
beauty — " 

" And put the governor in full uniform, Jem," added the boatswain's 
mate, " with his call round his neck and a cock'd hat in his hand, that 
they may know as he's a quarter-deck officer — you may do what you 
like with the lady." 

This was also done, and a debate ensued on what should come next. 
14 If I may have my say, Mr. Pearson," said Phillips, 44 I should put a 
Cupid, with his bow and arrow aiming at a heart."' 



THE OLD SAILOR S 



"That's too common, Jem," observed the boatswain's mate, trying 
to sketch out something in the grog that had been spilt upon the table. 
fc * Now if it was me, Sir, why I should put my heart floating in the sea, 
to signal to her that it's adrift upon the troubled waters, and then I'd 
have a Cupid in the bows of a whale-boat going to strike it with a 
harpoon, in regard of such a heart as yourn, being stout, and tough, 
and strong, so as no arrow could pierce it." 

" You're right again Jack," said Pearson ; " log all that down, Jem, 
and bear a hand about it, my hearty." 

Jem acquiesced ; and after some labour, aided by the corrections o£ 
old Jack, it was done to the boatswain's perfect satisfaction. 

"Now then," said the lover, "just put me there next, offering a 
ring and a bag of dollars for the girl's acceptance." 

" Ah ! that will do, Jem," assented Moberly ; " but clap his honour's 
heart in his right hand, holding it out with the harpoon through it, 
and make it a big heart, Jem, that they may know its a generous 
one ; and then as to the ring, it should be as large as the ring of the 
best bower, and a precious whacking bag of dollars, for nothing goes 
down so well with these here China people as money." 

This was also accomplished, and Phillips suggested that a figure of 
Hymen should follow, to manifest that marriage was intended. 

" All very proper," said the boatswain, " but clap a cock'd hat on 
his head, to say as nobody shall top the officer over me arter I'm 
married." 

" And ship the call in his mouth, Jem, piping all hands to harmony," 
requested old Jack, with the whole of which the gunner's mate com- 
plied, adding an altar with two hearts upon it, transfixed by the same 
harpoon. 

'• And now arter that comes the splicing," said the boatswain, 
" which I take it you can do without directions, Jem, seeing as you've 
been married yourself." 

" Only just veer and haul upon your fancy, messmate, in regard of 
his reverence's wig," added old Jack ; " never don't you go for to give 
him a little bit of a truck not bigger than a hartichoke, but an out-and- 
out cauliflower consarn, as large as the shell of a four-fold block, so 
that they may take him for a Bishop or some other digmuntary of the 
church — and don't scratch down the lady with a fan afore her eyes, 
but haul the fan on one side, and let her show her face as if she'd no 
need to be ashamed on it, and give the clargy a large prombongsis, 
that's a nose, Jem, as a sartin sign of his having a good living." 

Down went the design, Phillips embellishing it in bis own way. 
4 And that, I take it, will be quite enough," said the boatswain, 
looking with great complacency on the drawing. 

" Why not exactly, Sir," remarked old Jack, with some degree of 
hesitation, "there's the sigmanture to come ; and I should put a true 
lovier's knot over my name, with ' Yourn till Death ; ' and as mayhap 
she'll not be able to make out the wiiting part, why I'd just log down 
a hint of it underneath, so as she mayn't be bothered in regard of 
not knowing English, Jem." 




^oW,&jSfcW^ 



Jfrc/y^ri/ .^o^^/*w-iZ>4/ -AcJ a^&^a^cA-eJ. 



JOLLY BOAT. 9 

This instruction was consequently carried into execution, the knot 
inscribed with its real character, the boatswain's name and the et 
ceteras were clearly displayed with the hint at the bottom — neither 
of the tars recollecting that, if the lady could not read the writing, the 
latter was a very useless appendage— -however, down it went. 

"And now, Jem, to make a wind-up and a finish on it," said the 
boatswain's-mate, after he had taken rather a persevering draught 
of half-and-half, " why clap a gallon measure here, on the larboard 
side, and write the name of the stuff upon it, and then put a hand 
over it, and put another gallon measure on the starboard side, and 
let 'em know there's some more in that, so as it may read ' grog and 
more grog.' " 

". Well, there they are," declared Phillips, " and an unrolled ball of 
spun-yarn from one to the other, to keep up the relationship." 

" Capital !" exclaimed the boatswain, rubbing his hands together 
with greater pleasure than he had enjoyed for some time past; "if 
that don't let her into the secret, in spite of all the Tartars, aye, and 
cream of Tartars in the world, then I'm a Dutchman; but there's a 
space atwixt the two gallon measures, Jack—" 

" Which Jem may fill up," replied the boatswain's mate, by putting 
Muster Richard Pearson, and Missus Rong Ching Feu Pearson, a 
dancing together to the music of Davy Bradbury's fiddle ; and Davy 
knows how to play all sorts of hops -" 

" With you and Jem abaft there, giving us three cheers, whilst you 
drinks both our healths," added the boatswain, as during its progress 
he looked over this last effort of Philips' talents, which, as soon as it 
was accomplished, drew forth the hearty encomiums of all, Pearson 
declaring that " it was the most completest thing he had ever seen in 
his life," and perfectly satisfied of its being wholly irresistible. The 
letter was proudly displayed to Mr. Wildgust, who highly approved 
of it, as no doubt will the reader while he looks at the fac-simile of it. 

Jack Moberly was to be the messenger ; and early next morning he 
was clean rigged and allowed to go on shore on leave ; and as every 
one at that time went armed, Jack buckled round him his cutlass-belt, 
in which he tucked a brace of pistols. 

Arrived in front of the house he observed two tall stout Tartars, 
leaning against the door-posts, and eyeing him with looks of contempt. 
Jack walked up to them, and very civilly requested permission to pass 
in ; they demanded his business, and jostled him, — this the boatswain's 
mate bore patiently for a short time, but finding that forbearance 
would not do, he coolly knocked down one of the fellows with his fist, 
and presenting a pistol at the other, made good his entrance. In 
obedience to the orders he had received, Jack walked leisurely up 
stairs, and coming to the door of an apartment that was closed, he 
knocked loudly with an air of authority. There was instantly a 
jabbering and noise withinside, but no one answered the summons. 
Jack knocked again rather louder, and this time hailed " House-a-hoy." 
The confusion in the interior of the room increased ; when the seaman, 
well considering the danger of delay, threw open the portal, and beheld 
2 



10 THE OLD SAILORS 

half a dozen ladies in a terrible fright at his appearance, their alarm 
being excited, not only on account of Jack himself, but dread at 
the edicts issued by the mandarins against all who should counte- 
nance the " barbarian eye." The ladies had upset the tea table in 
their endeavours to retreat, and the terrible clatter of little tea cups 
ibout the size of thimbles, made the confusion greater. Two of the 
dear creatures were sprawling on the floor, an elderly fat woman 
was shrieking with affright, the rest chiming in occasionally, so as to 
give a general chorus. Jack lowered his truck, and putting his hand 
to his forelock, saluted the party ; but it was some time before order was 
restored. 



CHAPTER II. 



Jack Moberly stood like Prosper© in the " Tempest," weathering the 
breeze he himself had kicked up, and quietly contemplating the dis- 
play of small soles and heels which the Chinese call feet, but which in 
English estimation are sadly deficient in measure. 

Some of the females were really pretty, and one who stood behind 
the chair of the corpulent dame, had an extremely interesting counte- 
nance ; but honest Jack, judging by quantity instead of quality, made 
certain that the fat lady— so much like his own Poll at Deptford — 
must be the selected choice of his master, the boatswain. 

" Here's a precious bobbery," thought he, as he looked round him, 
" and me the bearer of a love-chop as 'ud melt the heart of a holy- 
stone." He turned round to the fat lady, who still kept screaming, 
and innocently waving his hand according to the most approved 
method adapted by the Mesmerites, for the purpose of soothing her 
fears — " Avast there, lovey," said he, aloud — " Now don't you go 
for to continny opening and shutting your bridle-port in that sort 
of an onnatral fashion. 'Scuse me, Ma'am, but if you'd jist clapper 
a stopper on your muzzle and delay that huliahbaloo, why, I could 
have a fairer scope for overhauling the matter of the letter to you 
with the governor's love and dooty, and hopes you're stout, as he is 
at this present— -thank God for it. Jack still kept waving his hand, 
and the noise of the lady gradually ceased. " Ha ! ha ! that's all 
ship-shape," remarked the boatswain's mate; " the pampoosa is going 
down by degrees, and sure there must be sumut in this owld flipper 
of mine, as acts as a sort of conductor from my good wishes to the 
beauty's bussum." The other ladies, seeing that no mischief was 
intended them, grew more tranquil, and Jack went on making 
his passes. " All square my hearties ; and did ye go for to think as 
owld Jack would ever hurt a hair of your heads — well, I'm bless'd if 
the darling isn't dropping of asleep." This was actually the case 



J-OLLY BOAT. 11 

Tfvith the corpulent dame ; but whether from the effects of Jack's 
mesmerising powers, or caused by the use of opium, or having its 
origin in fear, the narrator is utterly incapable of deciding — at 
all events, her head fell forward, and she resigned herself to som- 
nolency. 

"Ayah, Mister Sailor — what for talkee, talkee," said the prettiest of 
the girls. " Ayah— no good that." 

" Now that's what I calls a lucky wind-fall," exclaimed the boat- 
swain's mate, with no inconsiderable glee, " who would ever have 
thought to hear his own wulgar tongue from the lips of a Chinese ? 
But in regard to this here lady, my precious "—pointing to the lusty 
woman — " well, I'm bless'd if she aint moored hard and fast in the 
arms of Morphus, and" — pulling out a letter — " who will I get to read 
it, seeing she is'nt not by no manner of means oncapable o' doing it 
for herself? " 

" Ayah, Mister Sailor," uttered the same sweet voice that had spoken 
before, as she looked at the letter, sewed up as it was in a pink silk 
covering — "ayah, what callee that?" 

" Callee that?" reiterated old Jack, as he hitched up the waistband 
of his trousers, " why, that's a grand chop from my governor, Muster 
Richard Pearson, boasun of her Majesty's Royal Ship, the Flying Mer- 
cury, for this here lady here " — pointing to the sleepy mountain of 
flesh — " whose name 1 don't ezactly know, seeing as how I never 
had it logged down in my memory." 

" Ayah, no can saavez Mister Sailor — no can see," said the female, 
" and no can see how can do ?" 

" Oh, if that's all, lovely," uttered Jack, in an off-hand business-like 
way, " I'll show you the content of the inside." He put his fist into 
the pocket of his trowsers, and pulled out a large clasp knife, usually 
carried by seamen ; but no sooner had he opened the bright blade, 
than the young female threw her arms round the ample neck of the 
corpulent lady, and ciied out most lustily. 

"Well, I'm blow'd if I can make anything at all of this here!" ex- 
claimed the boatswain's mate in surprise, as he gazed earnestly at the 
women ; " here am I going to rip open the stitches, and she pipes up 
* Bob's a dying.' " The young girl looked with terror at the knife, 
which Jack immediately observed, and promptly guessing the cause of 
affright, he at once ripped off the silk, and having closed the appa- 
rently formidable weapon, it was promptly restored to its capacious 
receptacle. The female observed the action, and became once more 
calm and tranquil. " And now, my darling," continued the seaman, 
holding out the epistle, " here's the chop." 

The girl took the letter, eyed it with more attention than the Chinese 
generally bestow upon sublunary affairs, and then stood irresolute how 
to proceed. Jack tried to convey the purpose of his despatches by 
laying his hand on his heart, and making love in dumb show ; which 
excited the curiosity of the other ladies, who, grown more bold, now 
crowded round the first, and all seemed anxious to learn tho nature of 
the letter — who it was designed for, and other particulars — before the 



12 THE OLD SAILOK'S 

stout woman should awake ; and for several minutes, there was as 
pretty a piece of pantomime going on as could be well conceived and 
acted', as the seal was broken, the hieroglyphics exposed, and Jack, 
big with importance, entered upon explanation. It was impossible 
for the dullest mind, after examining the various designs, not to 
understand the meaning ; and though the Chinese are not very quick 
in jumping to conclusions, yet, here everything was so palpable, that 
woman's ingenuity was not long- — especially with Jack's assistance — 
in comprehending the whole ; and this new mode of courtship, so 
contrary to the practice of their own country, appeared to amuse them 
very much ; but their mirth was somewhat abated when they were 
apprised that all this vigorous representation of devoted regard was 
intended for the fat lady, whose repose was so sound that she might 
have been mistaken for the seven sleepers rolled into one. Each 
thought herself the preferable choice ; but the youngest, who had 
superior intellect to the rest, and knew a few words of the English 
tongue, had gathered from the messenger's recital that the incom- 
parable effusion had been sent by her friend and deliverer, of whom 
she had cherished the most lively remembrance, not only from motives 
of gratitude, but also derived from a source always allied to gratitude 
— sincere esteem ; and she longed to enjoy another interview with the 
good-looking "and generous barbarian eye "—nay, more, from her 
latticed window she had secretly beheld him cruizing about in the 
neighbourhood, and evidently trying to get sight of somebody, which 
personal vanity whispered could be no other than herself. She could 
not speak to him — she did not dare to make a sign for fear that her 
motions might be seen by other eyes than his — she possessed no 
means of communication, but still hope clung to her thoughts, and, 
in the midst of disappointment, she had nourished a fervent con- 
viction that they should meet again. Now, how cruelly were all her 
ardent expectations blighted ! It is true he still retained the 
character of her deliverer from the atrocious intentions of the brutal 
Tartars ; it is true her affections had strengthened under opposing 
influences — yet, now the truth was forced upon her heart, that the 
demonstrations she had witnessed were not designed for her; the 
eager watchings of Pearson were offerings at the shrine of another, 
and that other a woman old enough to be her grandmother, as Jack 
had declared that the despatches he had brought were addressed to 
the corpulent lady — oh ! it was a moment of intense agony to her, and 
retiring from the room, her woman's feelings overpowered her, and 
she wept bitterly. 

As for Jack, having, as he said, " got all hands into good sailing 
trim, and brought them into smooth water," he endeavoured to 
arouse the object of his master's affections, but without effect ; once 
or twice she opened her eyes, looked vacantly around her, mumbled 
a few unintelligible expressions, and then relapsed into her dormant 
state. In one instant, however, she certainly manifested a strong 
development of pugnacity ; for as honest Jack was rubbing her head 
with one ot his hard horny hands, and shaking her by the shoulder 



JOLLY BOAT. 13 

with the other, he suddenly received a slap on the face, deliveied with 
all the precision of a scientific bruiser ; but the offending member was 
instantly quiescent again, and the probability is, supposing the lady 
to have been under the influence of mesmerism, that Jack, in frietion- 
ising her caput, had pressed rather heavily upon the bump of com- 
bativeness, and thereby caused the phreno-magnetic operation that 
yet tingled on his cheek. This, however, must rest as a mere matter 
of conjecture ; and I must leave the affair in the hands of the learned 
professors skilled in this wonderful art, merely observing, en passant, 
that it would indeed be a curious thing if it could be proved, that the 
phrenological application was first practised at Chusan by a veteran 
boatswain's mate. 

All efforts to awaken the lady to a sense of consciousness having 
failed, Jack left his despatches in charge of the younger branch of 
the family, who highly enjoyed the sport, and by gestures invited the 
writer of the epistle to visit them — at least, it was thus that the 
worthy seaman translated their manoeuvres ; and after swallowing two 
or three glasses of ardent spirits, he took his leave, and returned on 
board, where Wildgust and others awaited the confidential com- 
munication which it was expected would have to be made. 

Pearson was in the mate's cabin, half wild with anxiety and 
impatience as Moberly entered ; but he strove to manifest the utmost 
calmness of demeanour, as if it was entirely a matter of indifference to 
him, though the grimaces which he unconsciously made, but too 
evidently betrayed the actual state of his mind. 

" What cheer ! what wheer, Jack ? " demanded the boatswain, 
screwing up his visage, and trying to grin, till his teeth looked like 
the bars of a helmet — " delivered it, eh! Jack? — delivered it safe? 
And how is she — all square by the lifts and braces, my hearty?" 
Jack smiled, but said nothing. " What did she say to it — brought an 
answer, eh ? " Moberly was still silent. " Why don't you speak — • 
confound your porpus-face, you son of a swab, to stand there screwing 
your mouth up like an old maid in a trawl-net — out with it, and be 
bio wed to you ; how is she, eh — how is she ? " 

" As soon as you've belayed axing questions, sir," responded 
Moberly, quietly, " I'll just overhaul the consarn to you from clew to 
earring. You wants to know which way the darling heads in regard 
of not being in the sick-list. All I can say is, that she never told 
me not nothing about it ; but she guv me a striking proof as she 
warn't without strength, by the slap in the face which I got." 

" What, what ? " demanded the excited boatswain — " slap of the 
face, eh? — no doubt you desarved it. Why, what the blazes have 
you been up to? — some precious sky-larking, no doubt." 

"Don't be so hasty, Pearson," said Wildgust, endeavouring to 
appease him ; " come, bring yourself to an anchor. And here Jack, 
take a glass of grog to clear the cobwebs out of your throat, and then 
spin us the whole yarn from one end to the other." 

" Aye, aye, Sir," answered the boatswain's mate, taking the grog, 
which he made but one gulp at ; and then smacking his lips and 



14 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

wiping his mouth, he commenced a narrative of his proceedings on 
shore, to the astonishment of the boatswain, and the great amazement 
of the mate ; but when he came to speak of the charmer being fat and 
forty, Pearson could stand it no longer-— 

" It's false ! it's false ! " exclaimed he, with vehemence ; " and Jack, 
you're an old fool as don't know a handspike from the heel of the 
bowsprit — fat, you lubber '.—what do you call fat ? Is a boat-hook 
fat ? Is a belaying pin fat ? Is a sail-needle fat ? Is the staff of 
the dogvane fat? Is the end of a marlin-spike fat ? Is the spindle at 
the mast head fat ? Am I fat ? Is Mr. Wildgust fat ? Is any body 
fat ? Confound the fellow, to talk of her being fat ; it's a base 
invention, Sir," turning to the mate, " the beauty I'm speaking of has 
a waist no bigger round than a baby's thigh ; and it tapers away like 
a lady's — aye, jist like a lady's finger ; to go to talk of her being fat 
and frowsey, old and drowsy — oh, it's all a bag of moonshine Mr. 
Wildgust ; and as they've axed me to go and see 'em — bless their 
hearts — why, with your permission, Sir, I'll rig myself, and away 
ashore in the twinkling of a broomstick — the lubber to talk about fat 
as if I was bound on a whaling voyage in search of nothing but 
blubber ; Jack, you're an old fool ! " 

Wildgust questioned the boatswain's mate, and very soon ascertained 
that he had fallen into error ; but to what extent, it was impossible 
to tell. It was probable, however, that Pearson's presence would put 
all to rights, and he gave the required leave of absence ; but terrible 
was the boatswain's disappointment when his mate informed him 
that his visit was not expected till the dusk of the evening, in order 
that they might escape the observations of the official authorities ; 
whilst a suspicion crossed the mind of Wildgust, that some foul 
practice or other was intended, and therefore insisted that Jack 
Moberly should accompany Pearson, and be cruising on the look-out 
whilst the boatswain was in the house. 

Affairs being thus arranged, just before sunset Pearson and Moberly, 
after receiving many cautionary admonitions from the master's-mate, 
entered the boat that was waiting alongside to convey them to the 
shore ; and as no great secret was made of the matter, the seamen 
assembled on the forecastle, and loudly expressed their good wishes 
for the boatswain's success. Pearson had arrayed himself in his best 
long togs ; and to be in keeping with his representation in the picture, 
Wildgust had lent him his hat and sword, so that he really displayed 
a very respectable figure as an officer ; he had also a brace of silver 
mounted pistols buckled in a belt round his loins. Jack was much 
the same as he was in the morning, except that he carried an 
additional cutlass under his arm, " not caring," as he said, " to trust 
the precious life of his master to a bit of iron as was only fit for a 
toasting fork." 

When they landed from the boat, the crew gave them a cheer, and 
away they went towards the town — Pearson elate and full of con- 
fidence, Jack fearful that he had committed some error, and keeping 
a watchful eye on all sides, to prevent anything like being taken by 



JOLLY BOAT. 15 

surprise. At length they reached the dwelling, and Moberly, having 
secured himself a snug position by way of concealment, suffered the 
boatswain to proceed alone ; which he did without interruption, 
though he was well aware that two or three Tartars were fully 
cognizant of his approach. The ladies were waiting for him ; the 
corpulent one had recovered from somnolency, and, with the letter in 
her hand, was preparing to receive his devoirs, and very naturally 
expected to be caressed. Pearson did not at first observe the 
demeanour of the lusty dame — his eye was wandering in search of 
her who had made so deep an impression on his heart ; but she was 
not to be seen, and on turning an enquiring look towards the stout 
woman, he perceived that she was ogling him in the most enticing 
manner; and then, for the first time, he beheld his love-letter pressed 
upon a bosom as huge as high Olympus. 

" Confound that old fool ! " said he, with emphasis ; " I see it all 
now — fat and forty, indeed ; to go for to think that she — " his nose 
curled with contempt ; but he stopped short in his speech and ad- 
vanced to obtain possession of the letter, when the lady, fancying that 
his eagerness was complimentary to herself, suddenly opened her arms, 
and grasping him in her embrace like a bear hugging a monkey, poor 
Pearson was almost smothered. After some struggling, he contrived to 
get free, and a little tea being put into a small cup, hot water was 
poured upon it, and this, without milk or sugar, was given him to 
drink. The unhappy boatswain, afraid of being thought disrespectful, 
tried to swallow it, but made many wry faces before he could get the 
whole down ; he then, by counting six upon his fingers, numbering the 
five ladies, and holding up one finger alone, contrived to inquire after 
the absent damsel. Great was his chagrin when he understood, by 
their motions, that she was indisposed ; still he requested to see her, 
and, after much solicitation, two of the ladies went to fetch her. 
Whilst they were gone, Pearson's heart beat — no, it was not beating, 
but regularly thumping against his breast, like a miner at work with 
his pick ; and when the object of his regard entered the room, the 
throbbings of his pulse might almost have been heard. Making a 
powerful effort to rally, he extended his hand, took hers, pressed it in 
his own, and then omnipotent nature asserting her irresistible influence, 
he caught the astonished but delighted girl in his arms, and pressed 
her to his heart, swearing — yes, he actually swore — that he loved no 
other being in creation as he loved her ; and the grand chop, though 
given by mistake to the fat lady, was in fact intended solely for her 
hands. Of course, much of this was not understood, but the general 
purport was ; and a hubbub immediately arose amongst the party 
assembled, who now strove to force the last comer away, whilst the lusty 
lady assumed many ludicrous airs, and affected to believe herself a 
grossly injured woman ; indeed, Pearson could make out that she con- 
sidered herself betrothed, and was, de facto, his wife. 

Here was a pretty mess old Jack had got him into ! But still he 
was resolved not to part with the young female, nor suffer her to be ill- 
treated ; he, therefore, drew her closely towards him for protection 



16 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

and she, nothing loth, evinced much gratification at the attentions 
which he had paid her ; and, eventually, a few presents which he had 
brought with him being judiciously bestowed, produced a seeming 
restoration of harmony ; and after two hours of sweet enjoyment to the 
enamoured boatswain, he took his departure, promising to renew his 
visit on the ensuing evening. 

Jack Moberley, ensconced in the cavity he had selected as his post of 
concealment, had repeatedly applied his mouth to that of a bottle he 
had carefully stowed away in his trowsers' pocket ; and the potency of 
the liquor, as well as the extreme quiet that prevailed, operating upon 
his senses, very soon rendered him as drowsy as the fat lady in the 
morning ; and, like her, he sank into a profound slumber, during which, 
he dreamed of flying dragons and all sorts of mischief; when suddenly 
being awoke by a noise, he saw one of the former within a short dis- 
tance of his face, and his first impulse was to make a blow at it : but 
becoming instantly aware that it was nothing more than a painting 
upon a Chinese lantern, he remained still, and was enabled to see three 
Tartars, each with his lantern, outside the cavity, who having de- 
posited something in a sack near his retreat, went off together. 

" Now what the deuce are those fellows up to ! " thought Moberly ; 
" a sack full of plunder, no doubt, and, mayhap, some good pickings. 
Howsomever, here goes for a overhaul " — he projected himself forward, 
but instantly drew back again, exclaiming, as he grasped a pistol, 
" Avast there, you lubbers ! — none o' your tricks upon an owld seaman 
— I'm bless'd if the sack arnt alive ! " 

And, sure enough, it was in motion ; whilst a strange noise, of a 
human being in pain, issued from it. 

'•Ho! ho! "said Jack again advancing; "that's the cock you're 
arter fighting, is it? Kidnapping, eh? — here goes, though; now for 
a black dog or a blue monkey.; " he pulled out his knife, cut open the 
mouth of the sack, and, after some pulling, out came Mr. Richard 
Pearson, boatswain of Her Majesty's Ship, the Mercury ; who, pointing 
to his mouth, showed to the bewildered Moberley that his " governor" 
was gagged. Not an instant was lost in giving free use to his tongue. 

" Bear a hand, Jack ! " said he ; " them fellows will be alongside 
again directly ; stand by, to man-handle'em, my hearty ; and I'm 
bless'd if we don't show them how to pipe the bags up, and no mis- 
take — the body-snatching willans. Don't fire ; but give me here one 
of the cutlashes. Knock 'em down ; there's only three of 'm — look 
out ; here they are a coming ! " 

Pearson and his mate drew themselves to one side, beneath a pro- 
jection that entirely shaded them from being seen ; and when the 
Tartars came up, two of them were instantly felled to the earth ; the 
third tried to escape, but Jack went in chase, and having caught the 
flying enemy, he brought him back to where the others were yet lying 
prostrate on the ground, and a consultation was held as to what they 
should do with them. By the light of the lanterns, they observed a 
bundle of coarse canvass which the fellows had brought, and which, on 
closer inspection, turned out to be sacks; three of them were 







It . 



JOLLY BOAT. 17 

immediately put in requisition ; and the boatswain and his mate were 
not long in crammipg a Tartar into each, and then tying the sack's 
mouth round the neck of the kidnapper with his own long tail. 

At this moment, a Chinese came up, and the matter being explained 
to him, he expressed great satisfaction. " Ayah ! mister officer ; 
changee for changee, very good that ! " 

" Why, aye ! friend fokhee," replied the boatswain's mate, " the 
pick-arooning wagabones have made a bit of changee for changee as 
you say ; they wanted to ' bag the govenor,' but, you see, they've got 
the sack themselves. Puckalow, and lay howld of one of the lanterns, 
so as to strike a light upon the consarn, there's a good sowl,' and then 
thank your Joss as they ar'nt got you in a sack instead." 

The Chinaman did as he was desired, and with no small degree of 
satisfaction ; for there is a bitter animosity existing between the 
Chinese and the Tartars, the former are always glad to see the others 
well thrashed, especially for their kidnapping propensities. The 
lantern was suspended at the end of a pole, and Pearson, raising one 
load upon his back, and Jack taking another, they moved on to a 
certain distance towards the shore ; when setting down the sacks, 
Jack returned to fetch the third, leaving his master to stand sentry 
over the other two, and thus they continued till they had neared the 
landing place. 

Mr. Wild gust had become uneasy at the protracted absence of 
Pearson and Moberly ; he therefore manned the boat and went ashore, 
and on advancing a short distance, he beheld the three ugly Tartars, 
each in his sack, placed uprightly, but slightly leaning agaii.st a 
deserted dwelling. The Chinaman was holding the lantern above 
their heads, whilst Pearson and his mate were resting a few minutes 
from their labour. Although somewhat astonished at the spectacle, 
he could not refrain from laughing heartily ; and when the affair was 
explained, the boat's crew were summoned, who soon stowed them 
away in the cutter, and they were carried with much fun and mirth 
alongside the ship. The jolly tars were delighted with the task of 
slinging and hoisting them aboard, and each was placed in his sack 
between the quarter deck guns. 



CHAPTER III. 



Afteb the sentries abaft and at the gangway had taken the Tartars 
under their precious charge, a party assembled in the mate's cabin, 
over grog and cheroots, to hear a narrative of the boatswain's love 
adventure ; which has already been related to the period of his taking 
a parting salute of his mistress, whose little heart swelled with luxu- 
riant feelings at being beloved by the handsome officer. 
3 



18 THE OLD 3AILOE 3 

" In course," said Pearson, " I didn't tell her I was only a boat- 
swain, but pitched it hot and strong as I was a admiral ; and I gave 
them a delicate wind with my pipe, to show the way in which I called 
my men around me ; for, thinks I, she'll have nothing whatever to say 
to me, if I don't come a bit of the mandarin — so I sported it in first chop 
style, to keep them from axing questions." 

" But how could you converse together, Pearson ?" asked the master's 
mate ; " neither one of you could understand the other's language." 

" Why, I though you'd have know"d all about that 'ere, Mr. Wild- 
gust," answered the boatswain, with a jaunty toss of the head. 
" Love-making arn't by no manner o' means carried on by paying out 
the slack of mere tongue palaver ; its duty's best done by motions 
somethiDg like them there what you called hire-oh-somut or other." 

" Hire-oh Uchopsticks, Sir," chimed in old Jack, who, seated in one 
corner of the cabin, was enjoying a stiff nor'-wester. 

"Right, Jack, that's the word; I knew there was something about 
'icks' in it," said the boatswain, and then resuming his tale ; "just like 
them there hire-oh-chopsticks as we logged down in the darling's 
letter ; and she understood me well enough, bless her innocent heart." 
"Keep a sharp look-out, Pearson," advised the mate, "and don't be 
too sure of her innocence ; the women can play a double game when 
it pleases them to do so, and the young ones are as deluding as the old 
ones." 

" I can hardly think so, your honour," dissented old Jack, with an 
impressive nod ; " though, for my part, I have met with a little on it 
myself, during my cruise through life : I don't mean in regard of my 
present Missus Moberly, but them as I clapt alongside of afore I know'd 
her." 

u Why, how many wives have you had, Jack ?" asked Mr. Wildgust. 
" How many wives, sir ? — let me see. I can't disactly say ; but I 
think a matter of seven, or somewhere thereabouts," answered the boat- 
swain's mate. " The fact is, sir, I never liked to keep tally of them 
consarns, especially in regard of my never having larned to work a 
dead reckoning. But I remembers once, Sir, being ashore on leave ; I 
was a giddy monkey of a main-top -man then, full of frolic and mis- 
chief, and I belonged to the Royal Oak, seventy-four, as had Lord 
Amelia Beauclerk's flag flying ; so, as 1 said afore, I was ashore on 
leave, and in course, as we'd been paid prize-money, and there warn't 
no purser to sarve out the grog, why I had just as much as I wanted. 
Here's towards all your healths, genelmen," and Jack took a draught 
of his beverage. " Not but what I was quite sober, sir, addressing 
the mate, " ownly I was what you may call happy; and as I was always 
wartuously inclined, I kept a good look-out ahead, to see if I could get 
sight of some decent young women to overhaul my mind to, and ax her 
to be spliced. Well, whilst I was backing and filling, just dropping 
up with the tide, I spies as pretty a figure-head as I had seen for many 
a day, ownly she'd the least bit in the world of a squint in one of her 
eyes; and I'm bless'd if I don't think it was that 'ere eye as did the job 
for me, all the same as Miss Ring Ching Fou has done it for Muster 



JOLLY BOAT. 19 

Pearson. She wore a suit of black gear, with plenty of crape about it, 
and a black wale,, brailed up over her bonnet ; and 'my precious rags 
and buttons,' thinks I, ' but she is a beauty, anyhow,' though I didn't 
much like the colour of her canvass. Howsomever, I claps her along- 
side, as bowld as brass, and * What cheer, what cheer, lovey ?' says I ; 
but she jumped away, just like a shot when it strikes the comb of the 
s&& ; and her eye — that's her piercer, Sir — gave me a look that went 
right slap through my heart, for all the world like that 'ere harpoon 
in the letter through Muster Pearson's, and I should have wished to 
have had that logged down instead of the Cupid in the boat, ownly it 
was a matter of onpossibility to draw a eye going through a heart." 

" Come, bear a hand with your yarn, Jack." exclaimed the boat- 
swain, somewhat peevishly ; " you'll spin it out as long as you can 
remember." 

" I'll cut it at once, if so be as the genelmen wishes it," said Jack ; 
but a general desire being expressed for him to go on, he continued. 
" Well, then, she bounces away, and in good consequence, seeing as I 
wanted her company, I springs my luff arter her ; she made sail, and 
I went in chase ; and so getting the heels of her, I creeps up upon her 
starboard beam, and we carried on for some time with our yard-arms 
touching, and I plied her with a royal salute of flattery, as made her 
reduce her canvass ; and we were soon like owld acquaintances, for she 
hooked on the crook of my elbow and away we went, happy-go-lucky, 
talking together as pleasant as turtle doves. I warn't long in fishing 
out of her who and what she was. She told me she was a young 
widow, as had lost her husband." 

" Why how could she be a widow without she had lost her 
husband ? " inquired the boatswain. 

" That's a matter, sir, as I never gave a thought about," answered 
Jack ; " and, therefore, with my knowledge of things in general, it is 
not in my power to say. All as I'm certain on is, that she said, she 
was a widow without never a husband ; and she heaved such a 
moloncholy sigh, and the tears trickled so fast down her face when she 
mentioned it, that, thinks I to myself, ' a woman who can feel so strong 
a regard for him as is dead and gone, would be likely to behave herself 
properly and lovingly to any one as would fill up the vacancy, and 
treat her kindly, as I would ; and so, says I, ' my precious,' says I, 
* you're the neatest craft as I've seen for a month of Sundays ; and 
though you've been married afore,' says I, ' yet I don't care for that, 
as mayhap you've learned all the better how to work ship and do your 
duty alow and aloft,' says I ; ' and if you've ownly got a babby just to 
play with and cheer you when I'm at sea, why then, my darling, you 
can't do nothing more wiser than to take Jack Moberly for betterer or 
worserer.' And she blushed as red as the tomkin of a twenty-four 
pounder ; and then she sobbed and shook her head mournfully, but I 
knowed as she was pleased, because she clung tighter to me, and didn't 
say ' No.' So I grappled her again, and poured in a broadside of all the 
fine love-making words as ever came into my head, now and then 
discharging a volley of small shot in the way of vows and promises, till 



20 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

at last she said, ' She would consider of it.' * And about the pick- 
aninny,' says I, giving her hand a gentle persuader ; ' is there one or 
not ? ' And then she blushed again, and cried ; I never saw so much 
emulsion in any soul afore. ' Yes,' says she, as she covered her face 
with her white handkerchief, ' yes ; though my dear William is 
departed to heaven, he left behind a lovely pledge of our affection,' 
says she ; ' and, oh ! if I thought you would be a kind father to it '— 
' I will, I will,' says I ; ' the best and most dutiful of fathers 1*11 be — 
only try me this once, lovey ; and there's all my pay and my prize- 
money for you and the boy — but avast,' said I, ' is it a boy ? ' 'It is,' 
says she, ' a fine boy, the very moral of my poor William, whom I 
shall never see again.' ' So much the better,' says I ; ' that's about 
the boy I means, my precious ; and so, without any more palaver, let's 
get the parson to read us a page or two out of his book, and when 
you're Mrs. Moberly, Til rig you out as fine as a fiddle.' ' You forget,' 
says she, ' that I'm in my weeds.' ' In your what ? ' axes I. ' In my 
weeds,' says she again, and holds up her duds. * Ho, ho ! ' says I, 

* that's what you mean, lovey, is it ; well, never mind ; as soon as we're 
.spliced, we'll change 'em for sea weeds. But I should like to see the 

babby.' 'You cannot see him just now,' says she; 'but wait till the 
evening, and then 111 bring him to you, if you will give me your word 
not to get groggy.' ' Honour bright,' says I, laying my flipper on my 
heart, ' I'll keep soberer nor fifty men right out ; but why won't you 
let me go home with you ?' Howsomever, she wouldn't allow of my 
doing that last ; and so I agreed to see her in the evening, at the place 
where we parted ; for she would go, though I wanted her to cruise with 
me all day, but she said the child would cry for her ; and that was 
enough, for I didn't much stomach the thought of the innocent babby 
suffering, especially as she promised to bring it with her." 

" So you see, Sir," continued Jack, "having left the damsel, I hawls 
my wind for owld Tom Spraggses. Tom had been a messmate when I was 
was a boy, and now he kept the Salmon and Boathook, a house where 
all true-hearted tars were sure of being well sarved for money, and a bit 
of adwice for nothing. So I goes to Tom, and tells him of the consarn. 

* Have a care, Jack,' says he, ' have a care, my son ; pirates carry black 
colours, you know ; and for the sake of the blue jackets, you ought to 
make out what she is, before you put her into commission to cruise 
under your own name.' ' All very good, Tom,' says I, ' and all very 
proper in regard of my knowing as you means well ; but if you was 
only to see her — why I'm blessed, Tom, but there she is,' says I, as 
1 seed her go past the window, and Tom tops his boom, and slips his 
cable in chace, to reconnighter her build and rig, while I sits down to 
quiet the owld woman, who did'nt much stomach Tom's running after 
the gals. Well, after a while, back again he comes, and Mrs. Spraggs 
opens her lower deck ports at him ; but Tom says nothing, but gives 
me a wink, and so we walks into the parlour together. ' Owld un, 
breezy ?' says he, asking a question which he hisself knowed well how 
to answer. ' A bit so,' says I ; ' but you don't mind that ; what have 
you made her out to be ? ' Tom shook his head. ' Mind your eye, 



JOLLY BOAT. 21 

Jack,' says he, ' I've seen her afore, and knows a little of her history, 
but shan't never say nothing about it now ; ownly, as I said afore, 
mind your eye ; and be sure and have a good overhaul of the consarn 
of the babby,' says he. 

44 Well, genelmen, this put me to a fathom or two of nonplush ; 
out I couldn't believe, arter all. that one who looked so innocent, and 
piped her eye so nat' rally, could be a bad-un ; and the more in regard 
of her grief for her poor William, as had lost the number of his mess. 
Howsomever, I goes in the evening, detarmined to follow Tom's instruc- 
tions ; but when I seed her, I'm blest if I didn't forget every thing but 
her own beautiful figure-head, though I thought the cocked-hat in 
her eye seemed to slue round precious fast, and when she answered 
my hail, she was rather thick and husky in the throat ; and so, as it 
was getting duskish, and their warn't many people on the look out, 
I grapples howld of a kiss, and I'm blowed if her breath didn't tell me 
as she'd been taking a twist out of the neck of a bottle of rum ; and 
then I thinks of Tom's adwice, ' Mind your eye, Jack,' and about 
overhauling the consarn of the babby as she had nuzzled up onder- 
neath her shawl ; but she wouldn't never let me go for to touch it, 
as she swore it was fast asleep, and if she onkivered it, the damp air 
would give it cowld ; and, thinks I to myself, ' that's kind and 
mother-like on her, too — mayhap Tom's mistaken, arter all. Well,' 
says I, * lovey, you see as I've keep my word in regard of not getting 
groggy.' ' No, no,' says she, ' you've not kept your word — your are 
ontirely distosicated at this very moment.' 

" Now, genelmen, I positively purtest as I was as sober as I am 
at this instant; but coming from such lips as them, it jimmycum- 
bothered me, and as either she or me got to staggering, I began to be 
certain it must be me ; for, as for she getting top-hampered, I 
couldn't have believed it no how. So I made up my mind, as I'd 
been drinking, without knowing on it ; and I axed her pardon, and 
got talking all sorts of treacly things to her ; and she began to grow 
sweet upon me, when owld Tom's 'Mind your eye, Jack,' crossed 
my thoughts, and as she rayther tript and lurched to looard, I'm a 
Dutchman if I didn't diskiver as it was she as was shaking a cloth 
in the wind instead of me ; and, ' Yo hoy, my precious !' says I, ' its 
a sad heart as never rejoices,' says I, ' but you've been bowsing rather 
too taut a leech upon your jib, which arn't altogether ship-shape 
in a widow as is, and a wife as she's going to be.' ' I scorns your 
puterations,' says she ; ' my jib, indeed, and me in mourning for my 
poor departed William :' and she began to cry again, and I found 
the spray coming into my own scuppers till I recollected owld Tom's 
* Mind your eye, Jack.' ' There, don't go for to take on so, my dear,' 
says I, ' you know as I never meant any harm ;' but I'm blessed, afore 
I'd got the words hardly out of my mouth, away she takes a roll 
to starboard as nearly laid her on her beam ends, and says my 
thoughts to me, ' It's all plain enough now — she's a going it.' Well, 
seeing how matters stood, genelmen, I was affear'd as she'd capsize 
a-top of the babby, and scrunch it; and so, says I, ' Steady — steady, 



22 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

lovey, — tliis will never do, and I must sheer of.' 'Oh, you must, 
must you,' says she, 'but you won't though — you promised to marry 
me, you did ; and I've brought the child as you wished me — I've done 
all as you axed me to do.' ' And a precious sight more nor ever I 
axed you,' says I ; ' but once for all, I'll never go for to have a wife 
who arn't able to keep watch over herself — not but what I feels for 
the infant, poor thing — but I'm off, lovey, I'm off, and I gives her a 
wide birth ; ' take care of the babby,' says I. — ' Confound you and the 
babby too,' says she ; * and if you think I carn't be a mother to it, take 
it yourself, and be hanged to you!' and I am blessed if she didn't whip 
the babby from under her shawl, and fling it right slap at me." 

" Avast there, Jack, avast," exclaimed the boatswain; " she never 
couldn't be such a monster." 

" It's as true Mr. Pearson, as that Mr. Wildgust wants to be a 
leftenant," responded Moberly, firmly ; " she flung it right at me, and 
it hit me over the nose, and nearly knocked me backwards. ' Halloo,' 
says I, ' this is pretty usage any how, and I'm blowed if you haven't 
killed the child !' For d'ye see, genelmen, it dropped down like a dipsy 
lead at my feet, and there it laid quite still, and never moved a peg. 
' You onnat'ral wretch,' says I, ' its dead enough, any how ;' and so I 
stoops down to pick it up. ' Poor babby,' says I, as I grappled howld 
of it to raise it up in my arms ; ' poor innocent — this is a foul murder, 
this is — but halloo, why, what the blazes is all this ?' says I. " And 
what do you think is was, genelmen? — I'm blowed if the babby warn't a 
wooden one." 

A roar of laughter followed Jack's announcement ; and it was ren- 
dered more hearty by the previous feelings of horror which had been 
excited, by the supposed murder of an infant by an infuriated and 
drunken woman. 

" A what was it ?" demanded the boatswain, who had preserved his 
gravity better than the rest. 

" A wooden babby," responded Moberty ; " yes, I'm blessed, Mr. 
Pearson, if it warn't a wooden babby. So I tucks it under my arm, 
and away I shines off to owld Tom Spraggses, and tells him all about it. 
' I thought as much,' says Tom ; she's no widow at all, but rigs herself 
out in that fashion to catch such gulls as you Jack ; and she would have 
hooked you like a mackarel, if so be as I hadn't towld you to mind 
your eye.' So you see, genelmen, there arn't much good in calculating 
the jography of woman by looking at a handsome figure-head." 

As soon as the laugh caused by this narrative had subsided, " A 
precious tough yarn you've been spinning, Master Jack," said the 
boatswain, " and its very near driv all about my own affair out of my 
head." 

" Hitch back, Pearson," exclaimed Wildgust ; you were making 
love, hire-oh I-chopstick fashion;" and the mate laughed. "I want to 
know how you came in the bag." 

" Oh, that's soon told, Sir," answered the boatswain ; " for arter I'd 
l^ft the darling, my head was as chock full of her, as a West Ingeeman's 
lore hold of molasses ; there warn't room for nothing else, and I rather 



JOLLY BOAT. 23 

think I must have stood upon a wrong tack when I quitted the house ; 
however, let that be as it may> I was suddenly tripped up before I 
could tell where I was ; a cloth was clapped into iny mouth that 
jammed my breath ; my arms were pinioned ; I was gagged and shoved 
into the sack, holus bolus, from which awk'ard perdicklement Jack 
delivered me." 

At this moment there was a bustling of feet upon the deck above, 
and a boy came down to inform Mr. Wildgust that the Commander 
was coming alongside. The cabin was cleared in an instant ; Pearson 
took his station at the gangway ; his shrill pipe sounded cheerily on 
the night breeze ; the side boys with their lanterns were in attendance, 
and the boat having swept up to her proper position, Lieutenant 
Bullfit, the Commander of her Majesty's Ship Mercury, ascended, and 
was saluted by his subordinates. He was a short, stout burly man, 
the very essence of good humour ; but rather consequential in his 
manner, offering at times a strange contrast to his usually excellent 
flow of animal spirits ; a worthy officer, an excellent seaman, and a 
kind hearted man. Bullfit possessed most of the qualifications which 
a man-of-war's men love, for he was by no means deficient in 
preserving discipline. 

" I'm glad to see every one generally attentive, Mr. Wildgust," said 
the lieutenant, stiffly walking aft on the quarter-deck ;" it shows, Sir, — 
it shows — " 

"The benefit of example, Sir," responded the mate, taking up the 
clue ; " allow me, Sir, to introduce to your notice three respectable 
gentlemen whom I have captured ;" and he waved his hand towards 
the Tartars who stood grinning between the guns. 

" Ha ! ha ! — I see, I see, Wildgust," said the lieutenant, at once 
coming down from the high stilts ; " prisoners, eh r — and it seems you 
have taken them bag and baggage." Both officers laughed. " Make 
your report, Sir — make your report." 

This Wildgust did, relating every circumstance to prove that the 
fellows were kidnapping ; and Pearson and Jack Moberly corroborated 
the facts. Bullfit ordered the Tartars to be taken below, and 
well looked after, and he would do summary execution on them 
the next morning. The night passed away — and about the middle 
of the next forenoon, the hands were turned up to witness punish- 
ment. Every one guessed the object, as speculations were rife 
as to the real intentions of Lieutenant Bullfit. These, however, 
were in a great measure ended, when the crew found that a large 
block, covered with red baize, was placed upon the forecastle ; and by 
the side of it, with his shirt sleeves tucked up to his shoulders, and his 
bright, heavy cleaver in his hand, stood the ship's butcher, resting his 
instrument on the block, and leaning upon it. The officers and crew 
were assembled — one of the prisoners was brought up and placed to hear 
his sentence, which Mr. Bullfit pronounced in some unknown tongue — 
his motions, however, clearly defining, by his pointing first at the 
Tartar's cocoa-nut, then at the block, and lastly at the axe, that the 
fellow was to be decapitated. Scarcely any one had credited that the 



24 THE OLD SAILORS 

Commander would carry matters so far ; but the energy and solemnity 
of his manner left no doubt amongst the people, that he designed to 
deal out the extreme of vengeance ; and not a few shuddered at the 
thoughts of witnessing a deed of blood, perpetrated in a spirit of cool 
calm and deliberation. As for the Tartar, his terror nearly deprived him 
of every power except that of his lungs ; for when he saw the deadly pre- 
paration, he roared most lustily, and, falling on his knees, earnestly 
implored for his life. But his entreaties were in vain ; three or four 
stout fellows laid hold of him, and in an instant he was prostrate, and 
held fast, with his neck upon the block. 

" Do your duty, my man, and do it well!" exclaimed Mr. Bullfit to 
the butcher, who thereupon stood over against the prisoner, flourishing 
his bright cleaver above his head. It was a moment of thrilling horror 
amongst the crew — and some, in the generosity of their hearts, were 
half prepared to rush forward and rescue the unhappy criminal ; but rigid 
discipline restrained them, and they stood impatiently awaiting the 
result. Nor had they long to remain. The butcher still flourished his 
upraised cleaver ; excitement was getting more intense, when the 
sonorous voice of the Commander was heard to thunder forth — "Strike!" 
There was a moment of suspense ; down came the shining blade — a 
groan of anguish burst from the crew — down came the blade, and cut 
off the Tartar's — tail — the head having been slued round, at the 
precise moment, to effect this object. The tars smolced the fun, and 
laughed heartily, whilst the prisoner was removed out of sight ; some 
red paint and saw-dust were rubbed on a piece of old canvass near the 
block, and the next captive was summoned, who, on perceiving the 
arrangements, and beholding what he supposed to be the blood of his 
companion, roared most lustily : he was served the same way as the 
first, and placed by himself apart. The third came up, doggedly 
determined — he did not utter a word, and never flinched when his 
neck was laid in due order ; but, nevertheless, he was in no small 
degree gratified, when he found that only his tail was off, and not his 
head. 

A boat was manned, the prisoners were put into it, and their meeting 
again, when each supposed the other dead, was truly ludicrous. Mr. 
Wildgust took them ashore, and they were delivered up to the proper 
authorities. Having effected this, the mate thought he would himself 
call upon the family of the boatswain's lady-love, especially as it lay in 
his way. He found the doors open, the furniture cleared away, and 
the building entirely deserted. Nor could he gain any clue to the 
cause of their disappearance, or to the place to which they were gone ; 
in fact, a principal portion of the respectable inhabitants had removed 
from the neighbourhood, and suspicions were excited that the natives 
intended to rebel, which were ultimately strengthened by the conduct 
of some Tartar troops, as the boats of the Mercury laid waiting at the 
landing-place for the officer. Wildgust lost not a moment in getting 
aboard, and communicating his views to his Commander, who hastened 
to report the circumstance to the captain of one of those abominations 
in naval architecture, which had been particularly selected for a 



JOLLY BOAT. 25 

service and a climate totally unsnited to them — I mean the twenty-eight 
gun, or jackass frigate. 

During the absence of Lieutenant Bullfit on this duty, Mr. Wildgust 
informed Pearson of what he had witnessed ashore, which so operated 
on the mental faculties of the unfortunate boatswain, that he was very 
near perpetrating several extravagant acts, and was only restrained 
from setting all discipline at defiance, by the vigilance of honest Jack 
Moberly ; in short, the unhappy man was nearly driven mad at the 
supposed loss of his Chinese beauty. Never did the strong passion 
work more powerfully, than on his muscular frame — endeavours to 
soothe him, served rather to increase than allay irritation; and, 
before his commander's return, he was confined to his cabin under 
the influences of brain-fever. 

Sickness Was at this time committing fearful ravages amongst the 
troops, so that there were but few who could do duty, and death daily 
swept off his victims — the Chinese rejoiced at this, and watched for a 
favourable opportunity to retaliate upon their conquerors. Under 
these circumstances, the Mercury was ordered round to Canton, for the 
purpose of sending transports to remove the men, and evacuate the 
island. The ship was unmoored, but Pearson's whistle was not heard 
to cheer up the crew ; the anchor was weighed, but the voice of the 
boatswain was mute. Wildgust visited him as soon as duty would 
permit, but his language was wild and incoherent, a mingling-up 
together of past and present events in a strange and sometimes ludicrous 
manner. His love-letter, however, appeared to be uppermost in his 
mind, coupled with a desire to transmit further communication ; foi 
every now and then he occupied himself in chalking such curious 
figures on the bulkhead of his cabin, that it was well for the human 
race he had had no hand in manufacturing the first sample. The 
doctor directed that, though he should be narrowly w r atched, no 
especial restraint was to be laid upon his actions ; and old Jack, at all 
opportunities, waited upon him as if he had been an infant, aiding him 
in his pictorial designs and literary labours, with the same serious 
attention that he would have done, had his master been perfectly sane, 
and the cabin, like an illustrated tea-chest, was to be presented to 
Miss Ring Ching Fou. There were hearts split in two, broken 
harpoons, an altar capsized, the lady carried off by an elephant, 
and Moberly suggested and accomplished himself, the boatswain standing 
on his head, in order to show that his brain was turned by the loss of 
his love. 

The Mercury sailed, and Lieutenant Bullfit felt himself far more 
comfortable at home in his peculiar element, with the blue waters 
around and beneath him, and the clear sky above, than when secured 
by the nose, the ship had only a few fathoms' space between the 
ground and her keel. The lively motion w r hilst careering over the 
waves, was far pleasanter than the heavy monotonous roll as she lay at 
anchor, and the spread of canvass was more gratifying to the sight, 
than the sails rolled up, and the yards delicately squared. Besides, 
the commander had now an opportunity of the fresh sea-breeze to 
4 



26 THE OLD SAILOR S 

recruit the health and strength of his men ; for disease had commenced 
its work of destruction, and several of the crew had fallen already 
victims. It is a difficult thing for a ship, when once assailed by sickness, 
to get clear of it again — it clings with such a tenacity. I remember a 
frigate in the West Indies, which yellow Jack got hold of, and no 
efforts could unship him, until nearly two hundred of her crew had been 
consigned to an ocean grave. 



CHAPTER IV. 



Once more to the Mercury, as she speeds on her way to the place of 
destination. Sickness still prevailed, though the active and unremitting 
exertions of the surgeon had somewhat checked it ; the boatswain, how- 
ever, continued with but faint prospects of amendment, sometimes 
trembling on the very verge of eternity, and then rallying again, so as 
to entirely puzzle the doctor's calculations. 

They were about three days' sail from the port, when the winds 
became light and fickle, though still fair — the ship made small progress. 
It was evening ; the surface of the sea was clear and tranquil, the 
night was fine, and the atmosphere pleasantly warm. Mr. Wildgust 
was walking on the deck as officer of the watch, when Jack Moberly 
came aft, and touching his hat, pointed to a bright luminous appear- 
ance at some distance in the water. The colour was a greenish blue, 
rich and beautiful to look upon, and as it moved slowly along, it re- 
vived recollections of ancient tales, in which fairies are represented as 
scattering diamonds, so brilliant were the gems that sparkled around 
the movements of the ocean fiend. 

" I'm afeard, yer honor, as it's all up with my governor," said Jack, 
mournfully shaking his head, and looking at the ominous light. 

" I hope he's not worse than he was," returned Mr. Wildgust, with 
emotion ; " poor fellow he has suffered much, and " 

" He'll not never suffer much longer, yer honor," remarked Moberly, 
in a tone of sympathy ; " his line has nearly run out — his cable's at 
a short stay peak — there's one heaving in sight to give his last 
warning " 

" What do you mean, Jack ?" demanded the young officer, as a super- 
stitious thrill crept over him, and his eyes were directed towards the 
luminous appearance that expanded and grew larger and larger as it 
drew nearer to them. At first, it was broad away on the starboard bow, 
but as the vessel progressed, it slowly launched onward, till it attained 
a position upon the starboard quarter, and kept way with the ship, 
occasionally inclining to fall into her wake. For half a minute both 
stood silent, and Wildgust became aware that the whole watch had 
gathered together in groups at the gangway, and were earnestly dis- 
cussing the nature of the spectral visitation on the deep. 



JOLLY BOAT. 27 

" Well, Jack ! " said the officer, " I can see it plain enough, and so 
can all hands ; it is nothing more than a young grampus that takes us 
for its dam." 

" That ere's no grampus, yer honor," said Moberly, solemnly ; " look 
at the lofty black peak as he carries in a mid-ships towering out of the 
water, like a himp astride of some infernal monster. — No, no, Mr. 
Wildgust, that ere's a messenger for my governor ; and rely upon it, Sir, 
he'll never quit the craft till Muster Pearson and he walk off together 
— that ere's one of your blue sharks ; I've been watching on him a long 
time, but he knows too well what he's arter to clap himself alongside." 
The word " shark," rather loudly spoken, seemed to have a thrilling 
effect upon all who heard it ; so that it was instantly repeated by 
many mouths, amid the instinctive dread which seamen invariably have 
at the sight of this rapacious and terrible creature, which appeared to 
be following the vessel without an effort of its own to do so. the large 
fin upon its back not inaptly resembling the description given by 
honest Jack, who, in a short time recovering from his dread, prepared 
the shark-hook and other implements, in case the monstei should give 
them a chance of grappling with him. But this he never did during 
the remainder of the night, for he preserved his distance till daylight, 
when he cautiously ventured upon a nearer acquaintance ; and as he 
frisked close under the lee counter, displayed a monster about fifteen 
or sixteen feet in length, leering up at the men with longing eyes ; but 
whether he smacked his lips it was impossible to see, as the mouth of 
this voracious creature was out of sight. Three or four handsome 
little fish, from six to ten inches long, swam close to his nose, and 
diverged towards the baited shark-hook that had been put over the 
traffrail ; they were striped like a zebra, and here and there a few black 
spots on a white skin. These were the pilots to the shark who would 
have drawn him to the bait, but he disregarded it ; and pressing to lee- 
ward, shot a-head, and having crossed the bows, again took up his 
station on the starboard quarter. 

From this time till they reached the anchorage, and joined the ad- 
miral, did the creature follow the ship ; sometimes ranging close to her 
stern and floundering coyishly at the bait on the hook, at other times 
darting away, as if in pursuit of some object in the distance. At night 
his course was tracked by his gorgeous light ; by day the enormous fin 
on his back correctly pointed out his whereabout ; and so pertina- 
ciously did he continue to preserve companionship, that the officers, as 
well as the men, experienced strange feelings of dread that made them 
shudder whilst contemplating the unnatural association ; and the con- 
versations and commands which had previously been carried on in 
cheerful, hearty language, now descended into little more than whispers, 
as the anxious look was cast towards the pursuing monster of the ocean, 
and the thoughts reverted to poor Pearson the boatswain. 

As I have already said, they joined the admiral ; and the Mercury 
having anchored, Lieutenant Bullfit entered his six-oared cutter to 
convey the despatches to the seventy -four. The boat shoved off, and so 
did the shark, for it followed the former to the admiral's ship, round 



28 THE OLD SAILOR S 

which it swam several times, and though tempted, by sundry pieces of 
meat that covered the well-barbed instrument, to taste of dainty fare, 
it resisted every invitation to feast. The story of the creature was 
soon told by the lieutenant, together with the illness of poor Pearson ; 
it excited strong antipathies in the mind of the line-of-battle ship's 
company, though there was not wanting for some of them expressing 
a wish that the monster would take a fancy to their surly, tyrannical old 
boatswain, instead of the boatswain of the Mercury. Muskets were got 
up, and the balls rattled towards the creature, but it seemed to take no 
heed of them ; harpoons were hurled, but he dexterously evaded all ; 
and on Mr. Bullfit pulling away to join his ship, the shark attended 
upon him with the utmost politeness, and returned to the Mercury. 

Excitement grew higher and higher as the shark continued to follow 
the vessel, and poor Pearson got worse and worse, so that he was sup- 
posed to be near his last gasp. Jack Moberly was half wild ; in vain 
he plied and plashed the baited hook in the water, changed the temp- 
tation from beef to pork and from pork to beef ; the shark seemed 
regardless, and as Jack observed, " was detarmined to keep banyan-day 
till he got howld of the governor." At last, a young pig that had been 
smothered, was thrust upon the crooked iron, and Moberly, ordering 
every one to keep out of sight, himself played the tempter. The 
delicacy was thrown with some violence into the water from the taff- 
rail, and the splashing noise brought the shark towards it. The pilot 
fish swam round as Jack suffered the dead grunter to drop astern with 
the current, and then briskly hauled it ahead again, as if trying to 
escape. More than once the huge monster had ogled the bait, and half 
turned himself upon his back to nibble ; but Jack, like a clever lawyer, 
would not let him taste, under conviction that, when properly vexed, 
he would gorge the whole. Nor was he mistaken ; for, after some 
pretty practice in the way of teasing, the shark floated belly upwards, 
opened his ponderous jaws, and Moberly, watching the opportunity, 
slacked away the line so as to drop the pig into his throat. The 
monster shut-to his teeth and shook the bait as a terrier shakes a rat — 
his tail lathered the water into foam — the pig was swallowed — the line 
hauled taut — and a shout from the ship's company proclaimed his 
capture. Still, with, so powerful and savage an adversary, great care 
was requisite in getting him aboard, especially as his rage knew no 
bounds when he felt himself a captive, though not yet conquered. A 
running bowline was slipped round him, he was dragged forward to 
the gangway, and hauled aboard by the main-yard and main-stay 
tackles. Then came the tug of war; the men now hand-to-hand (if I 
may use the term) with their once dreaded opponent, feared him no 
longer; axes, top-mauls, crow-bars, handspikes, cutlasses, every 
offensive weapon was put in requisition to destroy him, whilst the 
enraged creature snapped at everybody like a dog, or throwing his 
huge carcass from the deck, endeavoured with his tail to sweep away 
his tormenters. Slap went a hen-coop to pieces, and away flew cocks 
and hens in wild disorder. Jack Moberly took the post of honour 
close to his nose as he held on the line, and narrowly did he watch the 



JOLJLY BOAT. 29 

vicious eye of his enemy ; whilst all hands, as they saw the shark get 
weaker and weaker, joyfully proclaimed their triumph, till, utterly 
exhausted, the monster stretched himself out, and died. 

The capture of a shark is an event of no small magnitude on board a 
ship. Nature seems to have implanted in the breast of a seaman an 
instinctive animosity against this voracious creature, something similar 
to that which the terrier displays to the rat ; but the worthy tar carries 
his hatred and vengeance no farther than the death, for whilst the 
canine animal, after shaking the life out of him, leaves his victim un- 
touched, honest Jack indulges in gastronomic desires, and, like the 
cannibals of the South Sea islands, actually eats his conquered enemy 
~-for a piece of shark, though rather dry when cooked by itself, may 
nevertheless be nicely fried in oil, and served up as a fish steak — if it is 
amalgamated with savoury things, such as a delicate piece of briny- 
junk, with a due proportion of salt pork (the yankee is the best), both 
having been previously towed overboard for several hours, it makes a 
delicious sea-pie, with as many decks as the cook pleases. Header, 
did you ever taste a glorious — full of gravy — voluptuous sea-pie? — (I 
am smacking my lips at this moment) — One of five tiers, magni- 
ficently piled up in a camp-kettle ? The crusts rich with the juice 
of the melting viands, and emitting odours that might draw an angel 
from the spheres ? You never have ! — Well, then, before long I will 
give you full directions how to manufacture this exquisite dainty ; but 
to enjoy it to perfection, you must first put yourself upon short allow- 
ance for three months ; hard mouldy biscuit, replete with animation, 
and strongly inclined to run away from you ; beef, that can be com- 
pared to nothing more applicable than pickled, mahogany ; and 
occasionally the choice indulgence of cheese, perfectly innocent of 
cream, but concocted of rancid fat, kitchen stuff, bees- wax and glue, 
with a mixture of yellow and red ochre to give it a colour — as for the 
fragrance which it emitted after a long perspiration in the purser's 
store-room — faugh ! I had better say nothing about it ; but I have 
actually known purser's stewards so powerfully impregnated by the 
effluvia, that they never got rid of it through the remainder of their 
existence. 

But to return to the shark. Another pleasant meal may be gathered 
from its tail, converted into what the sailors call chowder ; in fact, 
after a four months' cruise upon ship's provisions, a sixteen-feet-in- 
length shark is by no means a despicable prize for those who relish a 
fresh meal. 

We left the overpowered foe dead upon the deck, and no sooner had 
his last sigh escaped, than Jack Moberly took out an immense clasp 
knife, which he waved above his head as a signal for others to follow 
the example ; and big with anticipations as to what the creature's capa- 
cious maw might contain, all set to work to reveal the hidden secret, 
by opening his chest. 

This is always a moment of great excitement ; for let whoever will 
have lost any thing during the monster's visitation, however light or 
heavy, large or small it may be, the shark get's the credit of having 



30 THE OLD SAILOK'S 

swallowed it; so that a number of interested persons, as well as 
speculators and spectators, gather round to witness the cutting up. 
And there stood the Commander, Lieutenant Bullfit, earnestly gazing 
upon the triumph of his crew ; whilst foremost amongst the hackers and 
hewers, giving instructive hints to the operators, was Mr. Wildgust 
and the midshipman. Jack Moberly, however, was so well practised in 
the anatomical process, that he required no information on the subject; 
besides, the worthy boatswain's mate enjoyed proud exultation of heart, 
and he vowed to " dewote the first thing of vally in the shark's dis- 
testines to his governor, Mr. Pearson, whose recovery was pretty sartin 
now they had caught the fellow as wanted to dismolish hirn." 

" Stand clear there, Jolly," said Moberly, to a marine who was 
pressing rather too close upon him ; " I'd lay my life as you've been rated 
a 'long-shore lawyer's clerk, and fancies this is your owld master 
transmogrificated." 

" No, indeed, I do not," responded the marine, testily ; " but I wish, 
Jack, when you overhaul his kit, you'd just see if there's a pair of 
breeches of mine. Pray don't cut too deep, or you may injure them." 

" Aye, aye, I'll keep a good look out, never fear " exclaimed the 
boatswain's mate — " Has any more on you missed your duds ?" 

" Och, then !" shouted an Irishman of the alter-guard ; " it's my 
baccy box I've lost, argus ; besides a pair of shoes, which may-be he's 
dacently walked off with." 

" My bellows are nowhere to be found," said the commander's cook ; 
*' be gentle with the point of your knife, Jack, for fear you should rip 
a hole in the leather, and let out the wind." 

" He's not never got your bellows, cook, depend upon it," remarked 
a dissector ; " for if so be as he had, he might have used 'em to blow 
breath in his body, and so kept his-self alive — but I feels something 
hard—" 

" No doubt on it, Jem," uttered another ; for my part I shouldn't 
wonder if it's the kedge anchor as we cut from ; he must have taken 
it out of the mouth of the river, and swallowed it down his own 
throat." 

" Don't forget to look for one of my buckets when you're over- 
hauling his lockers," requested the cooper. I'm bless'd if he arn't big 
enough to take in a scuttle butt." 

" Avast there, lads," shouted one of the cutters-up, as he bent Lis 
head down close to the fish. " Silence fore-and-aft — I'd thank you, 
Mr. Wildgust, to order a stopper to be clapped on some of their 
muzzle lashings " — and he inclined his ear so as nearly to touch the 
6hark. 

The operators suspended their labours, and whilst silence was pro- 
claiming, Jack Moberly inquired, " Why, what is it, Dick ? Surely 
it arn't never — " 

" But I'm bless'd if I don't think it is, Jack," answered the other, 
interrupting his shipmate, and giving him a look of comical expression, 
which, however, had a peculiar meaning in it. " Listen yourself, my 
hearty ; you may hear it as plain as possible. Then I'm blow'd if the 



JOLLY BOAT. SI 

creatur hasn't bolted a Chinamun, for that ere langridge as I hears 
inside of him is Chinese, and nothing else." 

Dick's face assumed great gravity whilst making this positive 
assertion, and his manner seemed to effect considerable impression on 
the minds of those who heard him ; — in a few minutes the utmost 
silence prevailed, and it was evident to the ears of all who were 
adjacent to the fish, that sounds resembling the human voice, when an 
individual is in pain, were issuing from some part of the creature — 
a thrilling sensation ran through almost every one present ; even the 
officers were not free from it ; the feeling communicated itself to the 
whole of the ship's company, and each, with the exception of Jack 
Moberly, wore a countenance of surprise, not unmingled with gloom. 

" It must be a babby," said the boatswain's mate, with a grin, as 
he looked up to his officer. " Not a wooden one this time, Mr. 
Wildgust ; but, mayhap, as Dick says, it's a China babby as he's puck- 
alowed. Good luck to him, as long as it isn't my governor ; and if 
it should be a live thingemhee — I means a babby — I'll take it as my 
share of the consarn, in regard of giving it to Muster Pearson. Now 
gently to work, lads, and don't let's be parpetrating murder on an 
innocent child." 

Thus advised, the men went on cautiously in their operations, 
though more than one declined having anything further to do with it, 
and shutting their knives, became lookers-on. The shark's maw was 
opened — what it contained I shall not here record, lest the very fact 
should throw the shadow of a doubt upon the veracity of my narrative ; 
but this the reader may rest assured of, "there was no Chinaman. 
Every article produced roars of laughter from the people, on whom the 
reaction of joyous mirth had superseded the momentary impulse of 
superstitious aw T e. The sounds, however, though fainter, had not 
entirely ceased, and further investigation brought into light five lively 
young sharks, from whom, no doubt, the noise proceeded ; they were 
put into a tub of water, and swam about as brisk and frisky as they 
well could be. Matters being thus satisfactorily accounted for, and 
the fish cut up into shares, the decks were washed, and order and 
discipline resumed their accustomed sway. It was somewhat curious, 
however, to witness the alacrity with which the Chinese boats 
assembled near the ship, and picked up the offal of the dead fish as it 
was thrown overboard ; but whether they ate it with their rice, or 
used it as bait for their hooks, I am not able to determine ; perhaps, 
as they are wretchedly poor, they enjoyed it both ways. 

The men-of-war were anchored at the entrance of the Bocca Tigris, 
or Tiger's Mouth, but the intelligence brought by the Mercury very 
speedily put them in motion. The Admiral made the signal to un- 
moor, which was promptly answered; and Jack Moberly hastened 
down to his " Governor " with the information that they were about 
to return, without delay to Chusan, where he might again have the 
happiness to behold Miss Ring Ching Fou. The boatswain received 
the intelligence with satisfaction ; but nature was much exhausted in 
him, and though his heart was still warmly alive to the object >f hii 



32 THE OLD SAILORS 

devoted regard, yet corporeal weakness" had reduced his frame to the 
feebleness of childhood, and the mind had yielded its strength as the 
body gradually wasted away. Nevertheless, the pleasing prospect that 
was opened to him, served to cast a bright light upon his future path, 
and with a seaman's promptitude of feeling, he began building serial 
castles, which were destined to speedy destruction ; for the Mercury, 
instead of sailing with the Admiral, was ordered up to the famous city 
of Canton, in order to assist in keeping the place under subjection, 
and in a short time after the departure of the squadron, the pilot cam© 
on board to conduct her to her destination. 

The change, though unexpected, and naturally calculated to create 
disappointment, did not seem to cause so much distress to poor Pearson 
as it did to Jack Mobeiiy— a worthy fellow, whose highest gratification 
was to see every one around him happy. His attachment to the 
boatswain was of a perfectly disinterested character — in fact, it 
militated against his own interests; for had the " governor" quitted 
this life, honest Jack would have succeeded to his post — the appoint- 
ment would, no doubt, have been confirmed, and the gallant seaman 
would at once have been converted into a warrant officer. 

Beautiful is the passage up to Canton, especially through Whampoa 
Reach, with its numerous plantations of rice on either hand — and 
Whampoa Island, spreading its lovely foliage, intermingled with fruits 
and flowers — the bright green sugar cane, and the fragrant groves 
of orange trees, whilst in the far-off distance appear, in their intense 
blue, the mountains to the northward of Canton. Nor are the waters 
less picturesque to the eye of a stranger. Ships, of almost all 
maritime nations, may be seen at anchor here, discharging their 
cargoes into curiously constructed boats, called " chops," or receiving 
their lading of teas, rice, silks, &c, in a similar way. Vessels of various 
descriptions crowd the stream — some of large dimensions, gorgeously 
painted, and their yellow sails of split bamboo glistening in the sun-— 
from the Sanpan, containing a whole family, to the Mandarin war- 
junk, for the prevention of smuggling : but when they can do it 
without much fear of detection, the greatest smugglers of all. These, 
of their various classes, form a series of interesting features in the 
landscape peculiar to this nation ; but the most marked characteristic 
is a lofty pagoda that crowns an eminence on Whampoa Island, and 
which tells you at once that you are really in the empire of China, for 
in no other part of the world are similar buildings to be seen. 

The Mercury remained one tide at Whampoa, and then proceeded 
onwards to Canton, passing, in her way, the island on which stand.] 
(or did stand) the ruins of an European fort, which was in the progress 
of erection many years ago by the Dutch, who, desirous of taking 
advantage of the pacific nature of John Chinaman, wanted to gain a 
stable and permanent footing in China ; and the better to effect this 
purpose, they deemed it absolutely requisite, in the first instance, to 
have a place of refuge to resort to, and from which they might 
overawe, by means of heavy artillery, the inhabitants of Canton. But 
this was no easy matter ; for the Chinese were extremely jealous of the 



JOLLY BO.VT. 33 

" barbarians," and would not, for one moment, have listened to any 
propositions relative to the erection of a- fort, or the landing of a single 
cannon. The Dutch, however, after much difficulty, obtained per- 
mission to build an hospital for their sick, and a part of this island was 
granted for the purpose ; the outer walls were gradually run up, but 
not as an asylum for disease, as they merely served to mask the more 
substantial work that was going on under cover, so as to be concealed 
from the prying observations of the Chinese. As fast as the walls 
ascended from the outer extremes, so did the fort progress within 
them, till the undertaking promised to be crowned with success: 
which most probably would have been fully realised, but for an 
unlucky accident that betrayed and ruined their scheme. Of course 
an hospital was perfectly useless without ample provisions for the 
convalescent, and lots of medicine for the sick ; this was an axiom no 
Chinaman was prepared to deny, and consequently immense casks 
were unshipped from Dutch Indiamen to supply both. It happened, 
however, that in hoisting out one of these casks of provisions, it 
unfortunately slipped out of the slings, and down it came with a 
tremendous crash, bursting the staves and forcing out the heads, to the 
great alarm of the IToppo, or Custom-house Officer. But what was his 
astonishment when, instead of condiments for human consumption, he 
saw rolling from its recent confinement, a handsome brass cannon ? 
*' Ayah ! " said he, " what can be ? Sick man nyam gun ? — how can 
do?" This brought the affair to a crisis — an investigation was insti- 
tuted — the true intent of the hospital was discovered — the authorities 
were upon the high stilts — the peacocks' feathers and the yellow 
buttons issued their edicts, and the Dutch were not only compelled to 
forego their designs, but also the history of the event will be recorded 
as long as the memory of succeeding generations shall endure. 

One of the most wonderful scenes that the human mind can possibly 
conceive, is that of the floating streets before the city of Canton ; 
literally boats of every kind, moored in lines, and containing a popu- 
lation of more than two hundred thousand persons, many of whom 
never visit the shore, and all are compelled to be in their floating 
houses by sunset. Nor are the narrow, but densely crowded lanes 
(for they cannot be called streets), of the city, objects of less interest ; 
the houses of but one story high, painted in bright colours, and orna- 
mented with monsters of every shape that imagination can devise ; 
the windows on the opposite sides being, in many instances, so near 
together, that when going to bed the inmates may easily cross hands 
and exchange nightcaps. 

Honest Jack Moberly, with, some of his shipmates, was sent up in 
the boat to the factory, to assist the merchants in securing valuable 
property; and as soon as the business was concluded the men were 
indulged in their favourite beverage, till several of them were delight- 
fully in nulibus, and fancied their faculties were equal to the most 
important affairs. The boatswain's mate, having partaken freely of 
the elixir vita?, felt an earnest desire to study practical geography, 
by paying a visit or two to the grog-shops ; and, being well supplied 
5 



34 THE OLD SAILOR S 

with dollars, he strolled away from his companions, and wandered 
into Shoe-lane, which, however, he had scarcely entered, when he 
became aware that a thief (and this part of the city abounds with 
them), had lightened his jacket pocket of the cash it had contained. 
Highly exasperated, but determined, if possible, to punish the offender, 
Jack said nothing ; he returned to the ship, fixed some stout fish- 
hooks inside the pocket that had been plundered, secured it to his 
side, and then returned to the vicinity of the place where he had 
been robbed. Here he reeled along, staggering from side to side, 
and jostling among the thousands that were moving to and fro in the 
confined thoroughfare, at the same time occasionally jingling his 
dollars. The bait took ; a fellow w ho had long parted with honesty 
put his hand, in the "most delicate manner imaginable, into the pouch 
of the seaman, and grasped the money, but in doing so he also 
clutched the barbed instruments, and Jack, giving his pocked a smart 
blow with his hand, the rogue was firmly caught. At first he tried 
to withdraw his flipper, but escape was all hookey with him ; whilst 
Jack, seemingly, took no further notice of the affair, folded his arms, 
and walked carelessly on, smoking his pipe, and keeping in tow the 
Chinaman, who, feeling the lacerating barbs, did not dare to flinch, 
but followed his leader, making terrible contortions of countenance, 
and writhing with the pain under which he was suffering, to the 
gieat astonishment of the spectators, who could not account for the 
fellow keeping his hand in the pocket, on any other score than that 
of necromancy. Thus circumstanced, Jack paraded his prisoner in 
front of the factory two or three times, and then passed into Shoe- 
lane, a dirty, narrow thoroughfare, with shops of ail descriptions on 
each side. Opposite to a cook's shop, whose front was decorated 
with dried geese, squeezed as flat as a pancake, and having a huge 
dragon over all, a mandarin, with his everlasting umbrella^ made his 
appearance on one side, and a lieutenant of one of the English ships- 
of war on the other side, whilst a vendor of cats, for the making of 
soup, and numbers of other retailers of strange articles, watched the 
proceedings. Jack smoked away, and rolled onwards, never giving 
his tortured prize one look of recognition, or appearing at all sen- 
sible of his close approximation. The mandarin was struck comical 
with astonishment that the fellow did not run away, and every one 
expressed a firm believe that Satan had a principal hand in the deten- 
tion of his fist ; but none could . help laughing at the sco mdrel's 
ludicrous antics, which my friend Itobert Cruikshank has so cleverly 
portrayed in his illustration. 

At length, wearied of the exhibition, Jack made a short tack into 
the factory, where his mode of catching a pick-pocket was explained, 
and the hooks, benig cut from their fastenings, were drawn through 
the Chinaman's hand. The punishment the poor wretch had under- 
gone being deemed pretty well sufficient, he was merely indulged 
with a sound and salutary bambooing, and set at liberty, amidst the 
shouts of the English seamen and the derision of his countrymen ; 
the persecution of the latter arising, not from any abhorrence of 








I^s&rzs &, ~-^^£ 



//■ 



JOLLY BOAT. 85 

stealing, but that the thief should be so inexpert in his profession as 
to allow himself to be caught by a " 5<zr&-arian." 



CHAPTER V. 

The Mercury was not destined to remain many weeks at Canton, for 
orders came to Lieutenant Bullfit, her Commander, to take in certain 
stores and ammunition, and to join the Admiral without loss of time. 
Now it was well known that the fleet of men-of-war and transports had 
gone to Chusan, and the prospect of again visiting that place had a 
beneficial effect upon poor Pearson, who was manifesting symptoms of 
slow recovery, which afforded satisfaction to everyone ; for, contrary 
to the general feeling cherished by seamen towards their boatswain, he 
was universally esteemed. 

*' I'm thinking, Sir, we shall weather upon the sharks this bout, in 
regard of the governor," said Jack Moberly to Mr. Wildgust ; " it's 
been touch-and-go with him, though, and mayhap he mayn't get 
alongside of Miss Ching King Fou arter all." 

"Perhaps not, Jack," assented the master's-mate. " And do you 
really believe that it was thinking so much of the Chinese beauty that 
has made him ill ? " 

" I do indeed, Sir," responded Jack with earnestness ; " for as I 
towld you once afore, Mister Wildgust, there's never no knowing what 
your course may be, when a female woman takes a trick at the helm. 
I'm bless'd, your honour, if it isn't hard up and hard down with the 
tiller, and it's a long time afore the poor fellow can get it in amidships 
again. Now there's the governor — his ideas have been yawing about 
from port to starboard, and from starboard to port, as if he'd knocked 
away the rudder of his mind, and it was altogether onpossible to trim 
sails to the breeze of reason. Howsomever I hope we shall soon have 
him all ship-shape again, Sir ; and as I supposes, when we join the 
fleet, some on us will be wanted to man-handle them there wagabons 
ashore, why I hopes, Mr. Wildgust, you'll use your interest with the 
Commander to get me on the list of bush-fighters, so that I may 
overhaul wheresomever I can, to look for the lady." 

" But, Jack, the finding of her would be an awkward job for you," 
remarked the young officer ; " for should you discover whereabouts 
she is, and the governor— as you call him — marry her — she will 
immediately become chief boatswain's-mate." 

Jack grinned at the joke, and hitched up his trousers as he 
responded, " True, true, your honour, as far as the petticoats can go ; 
but she's got to larn how to wiud the call yet." 

"Oh, that is easily attained," said Wildgust, good-humouredly ; 
" but go below, Jack, and tell my boy to give you a glass of grog — not 
Shnmshu old Blowhard, but real good Jamaica, that I got out of one 
of the Opium Clippers." 



36 TTIE OLD SAILOR'S 

" Thanky, yer honour," returned the boatswainVmate, smiling his 
gratitude ; " a toothful would be none so worser this here warm 
weather, and I wish Muster Pearson could take his whack once more, 
for he'll never properly recover till he casts off his head-fasts from the 
doctor's niedsin chest; " and away he went to obey orders. 

I have said above, " a glass of grog ; " and the expression has 
latterly become very common amongst every grade, both landmen and 
seamen, but at what period it was first introduced into a midshipman's 
mess, we have neither record nor reminiscence that will afford us the 
necessary information. But certainly, in the times of the veterans of 
old, we have every reason to believe that glass formed no part of a 
jolly reefer's outfit. In the battle of Trafalgar, though the Prince, 
98, escaped without one man being either killed or wounded, yet the 
concussion of the guns caused sad havoc amongst the midshipmen's 
crockery, which was literally smashed into small parcels, so that they 
were afterwards put to great shifts for every kind of utensil. The 
veteran Captain Lechemere had superseded Captain Grindall, and the 
master's-mate, who was caterer of his mess, watching an opportunity 
one day when the skipper was in a special good humour, ventured to 
mention the distressed state they were in, and respectfully requested 
that, " as there was a superfluity of articles in the Captain's store- 
room, he would graciously be pleased to relieve them from their 
unpleasant dilemma, by ordering his steward to favour them with a 
supply of common earthenware and glass that was not wanted for his 
own cabin." 

"A very modest request, young man," said the veteran; "very 
modest indeed ; and glasses, too — hum." 

" Every thing we had, Sir, was destroyed in the action, Sir," 
pleaded the master's-mate. Not a tea-cup, or a plate, or a glass left." 

" Tea-cups, Sir — what the deuce do midshipmen want with tea-cups, 
Sir?" responded the Captain rather testily. "When I was a mid- 
shipman such things were not known in the mess, Sir. And as to 
your plates and glasses — the * young gentlemen ' in those days cut 
their beef with a pocket knife, upon a biscuit, and drank their grog out 
of a tin pannikin. Glasses, forsooth — aye, I see the service is going 
to the devil." 

The midshipmen, however, got what they wanted ; but the state- 
ment of the veteran captain may serve to show the rough-and-tumble 
sort of school in which our brave officers were educated. In the 
present day there is greater refinement in the midshipmen's berth ; 
mahogany has taken the place of oak for tables, and it would be a rare 
thing now to find a boot-jack cut in the extremity of the festive board, 
or three stout nails partly driven in the centre to form a candlestick. 
Green baize, white damask cloths, cut decanters, sparkling champagne, 
etcetera, etcetera — ices, jellies, blancmange, and all the luxuries of life, 
are to be found in the cockpit since the Peace. Shade of Billy 
Culmer, what think you of this ? 

But to return to my narrative. — The water, stores, and provisions, 
were all got in, and were stowed snugly away — and two companies 



JOLLY BOAT. 37 

of an Irish regiment embarked to increase the force that had already- 
sailed for the reduction of Chusan, &c. Up went the anchors ; the 
"Dutch Folly" was re-passed; both bars were successively crossed? 
and with a fair wind they ran down the river, hailing three remark- 
ably handsome vessels in their progress. These, to the seamen's 
eyes, were lovely craft ; a ship and two brigs, whose tall and raking 
masts gave them a peculiar character ; and with hands and an arma- 
ment that could belong only to vessels prepared to resist hostility, 
and that could either fight or run, as circumstances required. 

These were opium clippers, in the neighbourhood of Lintin ; and 
near them were junks — aye, and mandarin junks too — taking in the 
deleterious drug, in spite of all the edicts that could be issued against 
the forbidden traffic. The ship had only arrived the night previous 
from Calcutta; her Commander was a naval Lieutenant, upon half- 
pay — an old messmate of Bullfit's ; and, after a friendly hail, the 
latter lowered his quarter-boat and went on board, well knowing that 
these opium dealers live upon the fat of the land. Nor did he return 
empty-handed, for his friend plentifully supplied his wants, and 
there was no lack of good cheroots. 

An length they got to the open sea, and away bowled the Mercury 
with her dead and living freight ; the army officers messing in the 
cabin, together with a genteel young man, who had earnestly re- 
quested the Lieutenant to give him a passage, in order (as he said) 
that he might see more of the world. lie was spoken of as extremely 
rich ; and though he never shunned, yet he seldom courted the 
society of others ; and there was at times a melancholy in his manner 
that rendered him an object of interest to the sailors generally, 
amongst whom he seemed to be more happy than in the company 
of the army blades ; and as he spoke the Chinese language fluently ; 
he frequently held converse with the Chinamen who assisted in 
navigating the ships. He was habited in mourning for his father, 
who had died some months previous at Calcutta, where he had held 
a high official station under the East India Company ; his son had 
but recently joined him from England, after finishing his education 
at College; and now, though inheriting immense wealth, he had 
made a voyage to Canton in preference to returning back to the land 
of the " beautiful and brave." His diffident and unassuming habits 
endeared him to Mr. Bullfit ; he indulged in none of those vagaries 
which young men are apt to yield to, when left their own masters, 
with all the influence that riches so freely bestows ; and as he was 
kind, generous, and humane, the situation of poor Pearson soon drew 
forth all the amiable propensities of his heart — he would sit with 
him for hours — listen to his complainings — soothe his distress ; and, 
as his sea-store was extensive and excellent, the boatswain enjoyed 
numerous delicacies which he could not have otherwise obtained. 
So that, wdiat with the practical sympathy of his young friend, and 
the bracing nature of the pure breeze, Pearson rapidly grew better ; 
and by the time that the ship anchored off *' Just in the Way," at 
the entrance of Chusan harbour, the boatswain was convalescent, 



33 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

and he longed to tread the shore once again, for the purpose of en- 
deavouring to obtain intelligence of the female who had so powerfully 
captivated his heart. 

But the fleet was not there ; and the whole line of shore round tho 
bay, as well as every eminence, plainly evidenced that the Chinese 
had not been idle during the absence of the English. A continuous 
line of batteries had been thrown up, with embrasures for nearly 
three hundred pieces of cannon ; the ramparts of Tinghae (the city) 
were strongly fortified, and the defences on the Joss-house hill 
repaired and strengthened ; large encampments of Tartar troops 
manifested a disposition to oppose invasion; and the mandarins, with 
their banners, could be plainly distinguished by the aid of the tele- 
scope, as they shook their weapons in defiance. 

" They haven't been idle, at all events," said Mr. Bullfit to the 
master's mate ; " the ingenuity and labour of those fellows beats 
every thing I ever knew ; they will be formidable enemies in another 
half century, if they go on improving in this fashion." 

" With all due submission, Sir," returned Wildgust, " I think they 
never can be brought to understand the advantages of a steady disci- 
pline ; and, though admirable in imitation, they possess little invention 
of their own." 

'-' Perhaps so — perhaps so," — responded the Commander, directing 
his glass towards a body of troops. " Ayah, old boy ; why there's a 
mandarin cutting as many capers as would serve for all the legs of 
mutton in Europe ; and now there's another, and another — fine portly 
fellows they are, too ; but really, in that dress, they look like so many 
women." 

" And that, I suppose, is the reason that the sailors always want to 
get to close quarters with them," remarked an army officer. " We 
shall have some warm work there." 

Pearson had borrowed the mate's spy-glass, and was occasionally 
surveying the part of the city where the dwelling of his charmer was 
situated. Fervid remembrances conjointly occupied his mind with 
the necessary attention to his several duties (for though still weak, he 
superintended the various operations of the seamen) ; and the appre- 
hensions that the place would have to be stormed, and the safety of 
the females endangered, gave him serious uneasiness. 

" It will be sharp work for the eyes, Jack," said he to Moberly, as 
he alternately gave orders, and then ranged his sight along the line 
of coast-defences. " There's hardly opening enough to stick a marlin- 
spike atwixt them batteries. And," raising the glass, " where will 
she be, poor thing ; perhaps already slipt her cables for t'other world." 
To a man in the fore-chains — " Slue that shroud more round, and 
bring the dead-eye to its proper place, Jem." To Moberly — "Oh! 
it's a misfortunate matter for me, Jack, as would have married her 
off-hand." To a top-man — "Make a long splice of it, Joe, and turn 
the ends well in." 

" I'm thinking, Sir," returned Moberly, " that them there forts will 
be only as so many nuts in our teeth — easily cracked." 



JOLLY EOAT. 89 

" Nuts ! eh Jack? " said the boatswain. 

"They will be wall-nuts, then," remarked Wildgust, who had 
overheard the remaik, and would not miss his joke. "You must get 
some sacks made up, Pearson, for there will be a few more Tartars to 
bag there," he applied the glass to his eye — " I wish I had that old 
fellow of the red button, that's sporting his nuge figure on yon fort — 
I should like to carry that embroidered gown home to my old mother ; 
how the gold glistens upon it. We should want a double sack for 
him, Pearson — he's of high pin,*' too." 

" Mayhap a belaying pin, your honour," remarked the boatswain's 
mate, with a grin ; I wants to pin one on 'em myself. I've got as 
many tails in my bag as ud set up any barber in Plymouth in the way 
of business — and to my idea, when we once gets among them fellows 
ashore, we shan't want for sinnet during the rest of the cruise." 

" Sinnet, ah ? " sighed the boatswain, as he thought of the damsel's 
plaited hair ; and worked his fingers as if he was engaged in manu- 
facturing the article named. Further conversation was, however, 
prevented, by the stentorian voice of the Lieutenant exclaiming, 

" Up anchor — topmen aloft, loose sails !" 

In an instant all was bustle, and it was at first conjectured that 
Mr. Bullflt purposed playing a rubber of bowls with the forts and 
war-junks, of which latter there were about twenty in Chusan harbour ; 
but when the anchor was clear of the ground, the sails were trimmed 
for sea, and it was then ascertained that the Mercury was going to 
look after the Admiral. 

The soldier officers were greatly annoyed at this, for I never knew 
a soldier yet that was partial to a ship's decks. They longed to be 
marching and counter-marching on shore, where they could get good 
foothold, and stand steady. But unfortunately, that very night they 
encountered one of the heavy squalls which are common in the Chinese 
seas ; and, though the accommodations for the troops in the Mercury 
were much superior to those on board the transports, yet, in the 
blackness of the raging typhoon, the poor fellows were not only filled 
with dread, as the vessel careened till her lee gangway was buried in 
the waves, but also nearly suffocated by the rlense atmosphere below ; 
the circulation of air being entirely stopped by the battening down of 
the tarpaulins over the hatches. 

Happily, Mr Bullfit had made every preparation to meet the 
emergency, and, as far as human efforts could prevail, the hand of 
practical seamanship had left nothing undone. But the vessel was 
much strained ; two of the main chain-plates parted, and considerable 
damage was done to other parts of both wood and iron work. A con- 
tinuance of strong winds and heavy gales for three days succeeded the 
squall; but though the Commander was indefatigable in making 
temporary repairs, yet, vrhen the severity of the weather abated, he 

* There are nine grades of distinction in China, amongst men of rank ; and these 
grades are named "Kew pin " — (the nine ranks) — the " pin," or rank, is known by the 
colour of the small globe on the summit of the cap, and a badge borne on the breast and 
on the back. 



40 THE OLD SAILOR S 

dec mod it expedient to make for a small inhabited island on the coast, 
where his artificers might be set to work, and all defects remedied. 

It was a pretty looking spot, near the entrance of a large river, 
that he had thus chosen, and the population was in rather better 
condition than the generality of such places afforded ; it had, in fact 
been the accustomed resort of piratical vessels, who, at first, merely 
exchanged the produce of their rogueries for the necessaries of life, 
but, subsequently, established a regular commerce with agents sent 
from the cities to make purchases. 

The Island rose in a conical form, its summit crowned with a five- 
story pagoda, having brass bells suspended from the corners of each 
eave — large on the basement story, but diminishing as they ascended, 
and when put in motion by the wind, sending forth sounds that 
were not unmusical. The temple itself was richly decorated, and 
glistened brightly in the sun. The white houses had a very pictu- 
resque appearance, as they laid scattered amongst beautiful foliage 
on a well-cultivated soil. The anchorage was in a narrow bay, 
having at its entrance a fort of six guns on either side. Troops were 
also visible upon the ramparts, and in a small encampment, and on 
Hearing the batteries a few shots were fired at the Mercury, which 
whistled past her harmlessly, and were unnoticed till the ship got 
well abreast of them, when discharging both broadsides, the noise of 
the artillery — the rattling of the death-dealing missiles — and the 
reverberating sounds amongst the clefts of the mountains, so alarmed 
John Chinaman — that, dropping their matchlocks and bows, they 
caught up their fans and lanterns, and started off, " sauve qui peut, 
followed by vollies of musket balls from the English soldiers to 
quicken their way. Some of them, however, did face about and 
fire their matchlocks, but they made no long stay, leaving the dead 
and wounded behind them ; the batteries were deserted, and boats 
were sent ashore to spike the guns. 

The Mercury brought up in a snug cove, where the carpenters 
were landed on a lovely green sward, and the armourer erected his 
forge beneath a tent, made of old sails. Friendly communications 
were established with the inhabitants ; the Commander assuring 
them that they should suffer no molestation as long as they remained 
quiet, but if the Chinese troops became aggressors he would destroy 
every house and plantation on the island. A large warehouse was 
taken possession of as a temporary barracks for the English soldiers, 
and the ship was kept in a constant state of preparation, should any 
assault be attempted. But every thing remained tranquil, and the 
only source of complaint was the thievish nature of the natives, who 
stole every thing they could lay their hands on — not only secretly, 
but openly ; and their passion for iron caused the armourer's tent to 
be frequently plundered. These marauders were equally as expert 
with their tues as they were with their fingers ; for if they saw any 
thing laying on the ground, they were sure to put their foot upon it, 
and the ai tele immediately disappeared. 

One fellow had been extremely active in the neighbourhood of the 




stJovft (^u&AaAiJtV 



■^r/ //'rr/„ ///?/ te/itrt. 



JOLLY BOAT, 41 

forge, arid the armourer was perfectly aware of the dishonesty of his 
visitor, but never could detect him. One morning, however, observ- 
ing him on the look-out, he drew an iron-bar from the fire, cut off a 
piece from the end, and, unnoticed by the Chinaman, whose back 
*as towards him, threw it down upon the ground. The red hue 
almost immediately disappeared, and the native, turning round, 
beheld the tempting prize, and advanced towards the spot. 

"Ayah, fohki," exclaimed he, hitching nearer and nearer to the bait ; 
•'how you do? me sabby you well.'' 

'* And I sabby you too, you grinning lubber," reblied the armourer. 
** Sheer off", and be blow'd to you, or I shall clip your thieving- 
hooks." 

* k Ayah," responded the Chinaman, shrugging his shoulders with 
a look of the most perfect innocence. ** Ayah — -how can do ? — -no 
can steal — good by e — me go." 

Whilst saying this, he had contrived to get close to the piece of 
iron, and turning round, set one foot upon it, clutching the heated 
metal up with his toes — but finding it rather too warm to bold long, 
it was instantly relinquished again ; and though he uttered no cry, 
it was fully evident, by the contortions of his lace and body, that he 
was suffering great agony from the burning, aud which our friend 
Robert Cruikshank has so well depictured. A burst of uproarious 
laughter issued from the tent to complete his discomfiture, numerous 
spectators were looking on, and the fellow limped away amidst the 
ridicule of all, . 



CHAPTER VI. 

Notwithstanding the decidedly hostile spirit with which the 
English invaded the " Celestial Empire," it is an undeniable fact 
that, generally speaking, the inhabitants behaved to them with 
civility, and not unfrequently with hospitality — the soldiers alone 
exercising a resistance against their avowed enemies. But even the 
immense armies which the Chinese called into operation were as mere 
rabble, when brought iuto contact with well-organized and thoroughly 
disciplined troops — though the latter showed not even a tithe 
in number to the former — and thereby evinced the superiority 
of European tactics and courage over numerical strength. In several 
instances the Tartars stood their ground with considerable determi* 
nation, and many of them preferred dying at their posts to running 
away, or yielding themselves as prisoners of war. Their advance to 
meet the foe was wild and unsteady ; their retreat had neither order 
nor method in it, each one taking care for himself, and often in their 
eagerness impeding the escape of the rest. It was not a receding 
movement, with a reserve and a rear-guard to keep the assailants 
from pressing on them, but a regular " &tart " in all directions — "' tin* 
3 



42 1HB OLD SAILOR'S 

devil take the hindmost :" and though at times the spectacle was 
truly ludicrous, and caused great mirth to the attacking party, yet 
it is rather horrible to contemplate the vast sacrifice of human life 
that was sure to ensue — whether necessarily or wantonly, it is not 
for me to determine. As a proof of this, it is only requisite to 
contrast many of the returns of killed and wounded — for whilst on our 
part the loss was very small, that of the Chinese amounted, not 
to mere double, treble, or quadruple, but of hundreds to one — 
the grape shot mowing them down like wheat gathered to the 
frharp edge of the sickle, and the fallen being scattered about- 
like slaughtered wild pigeons in the savannahs of America. Nor 
was it an uncommon thing, in some cases, for thousands of spectators 
to be looking on, seemingly taking no further interest in the contest 
than that which was caused by curiosity. They are a strange people, 
the Chinese ! 

I have already said that her Majesty's ship, the Mercury, laid 
snugly moored in a beautiful cove at an island on the coast, that had 
been the rendezvous of smugglers and pirates, and whilst wooding, 
watering, and repairing her damages, the detachment of the — th 
regiment occupied a large building as a barrack, pro tempore, and 
every luxury that could tempt the palate or satisfy the appetite bein* 
in plenty, both officers and men revelled in enjoyment, withou. 
losing sight of that watchfulness and prudence which was essentia. 
to an armed force in their situation. They were visited by more 
than one mandarin, and the soldiers and marines going through 
their manual exercise before them, raised the greatest astonishment 
at the simultaneous precision with which every motion was executed. 
They also went on board the ship, and were honourably received by 
Mr. Bullfit, who provided a handsome entertainment — the band of 
the regiment played to amuse them, and one of the seamen danced 
a clever hornpipe, which a Chinese, who narrowly watched his steps, 
endeavoured to imitate, and really accomplished the task very 
creditably, considering that he had never witnessed such a thing before. 
Even one of the maudarins — a very corpulent man — inspired by the 
malmsey madeira (oh that malmsey maderia is the very deuce for 
inspiration) he had copiously imbibed, fancied he could perform 
similar evolutions, and actually made the attempt — his petticoats 
were drawn up, the better to display his feet, and off he set, to the 
unbounded merriment of the honest tars, who applauded him with 
loud acclamations and delight, A more laughable scene could not 
liuve well been got up ; the great man shaking his fat sides, jigging 
it about like a brewers butt in a fandango, cutting the double shuffle 
in a good style (the Chinese are perfect adapts in shuffling), his large 
fan flapping up and down, and his long tail, when he swung round, 
Hying out like a ship's pennant in a breeze. But — alas for all human 
aspirings ! — the delicious wine, and the exhilarating movements, threw 
the mandarins brain into a strange whirl of confusion — from a 
hornpipe he got into a decided reel, till, quite overcome, he exclaimed. 
*'Ayan — Captain Pulpit — you sabby tnut — uie can do" — and dowu 



JOLLY BOAT. 43 

be came upon the broadest part of his fat carcass— which, whether 
from its elasticity, or being made of India-rubber, caused him to 
bound up again several inches. Loud cheers followed this exploit, 
which the old fellow seemed to be highly gratified with, and beim* 
seated again with the decanters before him, the sweet liquid was 
swallowed with avidity, so that when they were ready to return to 
the shore, under a royal solute of three guns, Kwang Fuddel was 
hoisted over the side in the ladies' chair, to save appearance ; and 
when landed, and crammed into his conveyance, it might well be 
termed "sedan and stuffing." 

A few days afterwards Kwang Fuddel issued his "chops" for a 
grand festival ashore ; and as it was to be considered something of a 
ceremonious character, Lieutenant Bullfit, accompanied by all his 
officers (except the gunner, who was left in charge), each having 
au attendant, went in state, with a guard of marines and his boat's 
crew dressed in their very best attire — the army blades awaited them 
at the barracks, and a handsome procession, with the band playing 
and colours Hying, was formed, and away they marched to the 
appointed place of feasting — a perfect palace in miniature, situated in 
a beautiful garden, odorous with its thousand flowers. All the town 
was alive, and thronged the way with presents of sweetmeats and 
liquors, dried preserves, and numerous delicacies, which they served 
out indiscriminately to every one, and never were sturdy Jack Tars 
more in their glee. 

Our old acquaintance Pearson, had selected honest Jack Moberlr 
for his attendant, and the boatswain's mate, not a little proud of the 
distinction, mustered his best Chinese to hold converse with the 
natives; in fact, they were the most original pair of the party. Trie 
young gentleman passenger (who has been already introduced) ha i 
his own dubash and servant, from the neighbourhood of Calcutta, both 
in crimson turbans and snow-white robes, forming a striking contrast 
to his deep mourning dress ; some Portuguese merchants were per- 
mitted to be present, and the whole was certainly elegant and unique. 
A light, airy pavilion had been erected, hung with silk and studded 
with glittering stars, in which Kwang Fuddel received his guests ; he 
was backed by his subordinate mandarins and Tartar officers, splendidly 
arrayed. The English, on entering, politely took off their hats ; the 
Chinese did not remove their caps till permission was given by the 
English to do so, and then every head being uncovered, the stateliness 
of ceremony was at an end, and the whole party prepared to enjoy the 
rites of hospitality. 

Nor were they disappointed ; old Kwang had procured abundance 
of the products of every country, in addition to the delicious luxuries 
of his own. There were huge pillaus with milk-white rice ; savoury 
soups (rather doubtful as it regarded the puppyism of their manu- 
facture); dried geese, richly served up like the isles of Greece (qry. 
Grease) floating in oil ; barbacued pigs ; roast turkeys ; boiled hams— 
in fact, the board groaned beneath the weight of the feast — but neither 
knife, nor fork, nor spoon, were to be seen — chop-sticks — chop-sticka 



44 IHE OLD BATLOS S 

— everywhere chop-sticks, The confectionery was splendid rn the 
extreme-— sugared pagodas—spiced demons — candied dragons — bat- 
talions of melting troops, &c. &c, and the fruits exquisitely tempting 
to the eye. 

Ail sat down, and the dishes were handed round, but the puzzle was 
how to gather up the more solid viands with chop-sticks — especially 
as plates were at a discount, and every one was expected to help 
himself from the larger dishes. Some tried it, and the savoury morsels 
were speedily deposited within the folds of the shirt-frill, or formed an 
interesting mark of bounty on the delicate white trousers. 

" This is a rum go, Jack," whispered Pearson to his mate, who was 
standing behind him. " What the devil shall I do with these here 
knitting-needles? it ull be like drinking grog from a sieve" — 

" Or eating pea-soup with a fork," chimed in Moberly. " I know 
what I should be up to, Sir, if so be as I was in your berth." 

4i Not, Jack, but what I could manage, in regard of the remem- 
brance of old times," remarked the boatswain, " but you know, Jack, 
it won't do to let go the standing part of my gentility afore these here 
Fokhi's, and be blowed to 'em." 

'"It's arter all nothing more than a matter of diskrimagement, Sir/* 
uttered Moberly, by way of argument; " if you wants a coil of three 
inch to reeve, and arn't never got no other than two-inch aboard, why 
it stands in good reason that you must work up sich as you've laid up 
in store; and so as you can't man-handle them chop-sticks, why jist 
puckalow, and grab howld with your fingers— -hook on to a good piece 
of substantialment, and jist shove a bit out abaft, here, every now and 
then." 

The officers had encountered precisely the same difficulty that had 
bothered Pearson, but on a fine turkey being offered to the latter, he 
followed Jack's counsel to the very letter, and catching hold of the 
two legs, he appropriated one to his own use and transferred the other 
to his hungry mate. Kwang Fuddel looked grave; the Chinese 
stared ; the English laughed ; but the ice was broken, and seeing 
Pearson and old Jack heartily enjoj r ing their meal, the example was 
followed by all, the chop-sticks were abandoned, and the repast very 
boon disappeared. When dinner was over, Kwang Fuddel (who had 
throughout preserved a very serious deportment) relaxed from his 
gravity, delicious wines and cordials abounded, the recesses of each 
heart were unlocked by such powerful aperients, hilarity grew more 
and more hilarious — wit, fun, and humour prevailed, and the evening 
was closed by a grand display of fireworks, in the manufacture of 
which the Chinese excel. 

At length the time arrived for departure ; the procession returned 
to the barracks ; not exactly ia the steps which it had come, for more 
than one or two had to be carried, and their way was greatly impeded 
by a mischievous rabble on the look-out for plunder= The soldier 
ofScerd were left safe in their quarters— the naval men proceeded to 
their boats; but as their numbers were now diminished by more 
Viiaa one-half, the mob became extremely insolent, and snatches were 



JOLLY BOAS, 45 

snade at various articles by thieves, whilst others, more adroit, strove 
slily to pick the pockets of the stragglers ; and, if the truth must be 
told, most of the jolly tars were gloriously drunk. 

On reaching the landing-place where the boats were in waiting, 
the Chinese rogues, afraid of losing their prey, became violent, and 
rushed upon the people ; but Lieutenant Bullrit had, in the early 
part of the day, foreseen the probability of such an affair occurring, 
and ordered that a party of seamen and marines should be landed 
for their protection. These were called into immediate requisition, 
but the Commander would not allow them to fire, or to use the 
bayonet — all he desired was tt give the fellows a good thrashing, 
which was easily accomplished, the larger portion making off, and 
the rest well pummelled ; a number of prisoners were taken, and 
forced into the boats, which, when they had got some short distance 
from the shore, were ordered to lay upon their oars. Mr. Bullfit 
then gave the word, and in an instant the prisoners were tossed 
overboard, to make the best of their way to the landing-place, amidst 
the laughter and derision of the seamen. 



CHAPTER VIL 



The repairs of the Mercury being completed, the troops were 
re-embarked, and her Majesty's ship having purchased her auchors, 
made sail out of the harbour; Kwang Fuddel, out of sheer respect, 
giving them a parting salute with shotted guns, in order to prove the 
continuance of his friendship. They had not been many days at sea 
when they fell in with a victualling transport, who informed them 
where the Admiral was to be found, and thither the head of the 
Mercury was directed ; the wind was fair, every stitch of canvass 
was spread, and away she bowled, as if eager to become a partaker 
of the strife which was then going on. 

In a few days they arrived at the mouth of the great river Yang-tse- 
Keang, which runs up to the celebrated city Nankin, formerly 
one of the finest in the world, and giving name to the cloth so 
universally known, where it is principally manufactured. The breeze 
was favourable ; the long line of sea-defences had been dismantled 
by the fleet, and offered no resistance, except that now and then a 
solitary shot was fired, and fell harmless — the Mercury pursued her 
course, anchoring in light winds when the rapid current was against 
her. The Admiral, with the fleet and transports, in all about seventy 
sail, were more than one hundred and fifty miles up ; and after three 
days the mast-heads were seen near to the city of Chin-keang-foo, 
which was about to be attacked by the united forces. The Mercury 
anchored in position ; the troops were immediately disembarked, and 
y '■ p»d the brigade of Major-General Schoedde opposite the rocky 



46 THE OLD SAILOB'S 

but romantic-looking island Kinshan, with its seven-tier pagoda on 
the summit. A party of seamen also landed, but as there was no 
particular naval brigade, they attached themselves to a division 
under the command of Captain Richards, of the Cornwallis, seventy- 
four, and with them went the young gentleman-passenger and 
Pearson the boatswain. 

This place was considered as the stronghold of the Tartars, who 
looked upon it as impregnable ; and certainly the defences were of 
a most excellent kind, and the troops (the finest in the Chinese 
empire) determined to stand to the last; in fact, they disputed every 
step of ground most manfully, and many who might have been spared, 
preferred dying sword in hand. So rapid, however, were the move- 
ments of the troops — although the sun poured down such a burning 
heat that numbers expired under its intensity — that the place was 
carried by assault ; the gates thrown open, but the troops waited till 
the evening to take possession of the Tartar city, when they entered, 
and a scene of the most horrible and indiscriminate slaughter 
presented itself. The Tartar troops who had escaped from the shot of 
the English army, had, with desperate and sanguinary ferocity, 
retreated to their homes, where they commenced the destruction of 
their families — chiefly by cutting the throats of their wives and 
children — the houses were set on fire, and burnt fiercely, and the 
unhappy wretches themselves perpetrated suicide; so that in all 
directions were scorched and mangled bodies. Scarcely a house that 
was left entire but presented terrific spectacles of this unnatural 
massacre — half-burnt carcasses and murdered children — even the tanks 
and wells were filled with them ; a more terrific scene of carnage 
could not well be seen, and the native plunderers were at work, 
finishing the dreadful devastation by setting fire to whole streets of 
houses, in order to faciliate their thievish propensities, which no 
earthly power could possibly check. 

Pearson and his young companion (who acted as interpreter, on 
most occasions) visited this place together ; they examined several 
of the dwellings, and almost every one afforded terrible proofs of the 
sanguinary hand of the destroyer. At length they came to one near 
the western outworks, that appeared to have been set on fire, which, 
however, had been extinguished before it had done much damage. 
At first they hesitated to enter it, lest they might be attacked by 
concealed Tartars ; but Mr. Wildgust, with several seamen, coming 
up, the boatswain opened the door. Shrieks were heard in the upper 
apartment, Pearson quickly ascended the stairs, entered the room, 
and beheld a number of females; his brain whirled rouud — theie 
was the fat lady of Chusan and her daughters ; and there, also, 
clasped in the next instant in the boatswain's arms, was Miss Ching 
King Fou herself. Wildgust and the gentleman-passenger were not 
a little astonished at this display, which, however, was soon 
explained ; and the delighted warrant officer, with his Chinese lady, 
equally shared the congratulations of the party. But the next 
question arose — What were they to do with them ? Orders had been 
given that there should be no interference with the natives, who weie 



JOLLY BOAT. 



47 



to be left, in all things proper, to their own free will ; but in this 
instance it was certain death to let them remain ; for the blazing and 
scorching heat of the sun (under which several Europeans had that 
day fallen victims) would soon cause putrescence amongst the dead 
bodies, that must be fatal. Mr. Metcalfe (the passenger) addressed 
them in Chinese, and pointed out the perilous situation in which 
they were placed ; he learned, in return, that their present position 
was not voluntary, and that they were ready to go any w T here that 
proffered them a place of safety. As for Miss Ching Ring Fou and 
her admirer, they seemed to be resolved that nothing should separate 
them. 

Under these circumstances, preparations were made for immediate 
departure. The furniture of the house was not worth the trouble of 
removal, but the ladies would have burdened themselves with sundry 
japanned boxes, wicker baskets, ornamented cases, &c. &c, had not 
the seamen readily undertaken to relieve them ; and a sedan being 
procured for the corpulent female, they quitted this " city of tlus 
dead " for more comfortable quarters near the British troops. The 
story of Pearson and his love soon got spread abroad, both in the 
navy and army, and Miss Ching Ring Fou being really pretty, 
with a good deal of the European cast of countenance mingled with 
the native, she became an object of attraction to many of the officers 
desirous of unbending their minds from sterner duties; but she 
adhered most faithfully to the boatswain, and permission having been 
obtained, as well as her own sanction given, Pearson resolved to be 
married off-hand. 

Mr. Metcalfe took great interest in the proceedings ; he had formed 
a strong friendship for the boatswain, and readily undertook to 
interpret between him and the lady. Hitherto Miss Ching Ring Fou 
was supposed to be the daughter of the stout woman ; but she was 
not so in reality, being merely adopted for one whom she had lost, 
which is no uncommon thing amongst these strange people ; her 
father had, in fact, been an Englishman, her mother having lived 
with him at Canton, but on his quitting the factory, and wishing to 
take his daughter with him, she had carried her child away into 
concealment, and dying herself soon afterwards, the stout woman had 
received the young girl under her own roof, as a member of her 
family, and with them she had remained from that period. Metcalfe 
listened to this recital with deep attention ; he inquired the name of 
the father, but they could not tell him that ; he then asked them if 
they had any documents, trinkets, or memorandums, by which a 
clue could be afforded to her paternal relationship ; writings they 
possessed none — there were a few valuable trinkets, which the young 
man eagerly and minutely examined, but though evidently much 
agitated, he said nothing. At last it was called to remembrance 
that, enclosed in a locket suspended round her neck, Ching Ring Fou 
had something which they supposed to be a charm — this was pro- 
duced, and carefully inspected by Metcalfe. The case was of no great 
value, but ingeniously contrived ; withinside were several 6mall flat 
substances, closely enveloped in eilk coverings, which, on being 



48 ?UZ OLD fciiLOE > 

removed, revealed pieces of paper and parchment, written upon, both 
in English and in Chinese ; and one contained a diminutive portrait, 
which had evidently been painted for the purpose of being set in a 
ling. The hand-writing and the likeness were equally known to 
Metcalfe — they were those of his own father ; and when the name of 
the lady's mother was imparted to him, he declared that his mission 
was ended — he had faithfully executed the dying injunctions of his 
parent, who had solemnly requested him to visit every part of China 
that could be visited, in order, if possible, to discover his lost child ; 
to whom, if found, he had bequeathed a handsome property. Proof 
after proof was developed ; Ching Ring's recollections corroborated 
the facts ; all doubt was at an end ; she was his sister, by the same 
father ; he had been sent to seek her, and he at onee acknowledged 
the affinity. 

Poor Pearson was seized with powerful apprehensions when in- 
formed of what had occurred ; for he feared that, now the lady was 
heiress to a fortune, she would reject him for some more wealthy or 
exalted individual; besides, Mr. Metcalfe was so much his superior 
in station, that he naturally concluded the young gentleman would 
not allow his relative to be united to a poor boatswain, however good 
a seaman or honest he might be ; and thus matters stood for a few 
days, till orders were issued for the troops to embark for Nankin, 
and Mr. Metcalfe and his sister, with the other ladies, who wished 
to fly from the pestilence, were accommodated in her Majesty's ship 
the Mercury. 

The young passenger behaved to Pearson with his usual affable 
demeanour, but the subordinate station occupied by the boatswain 
did not admit of intercourse with the Commander's cabin, so that he 
saw but very little of his " ladyc love ;" still she had been discovered, 
and was in the same vessel with him. There was nothing he could 
reasonably complain of; but, nevertheless, he was far from happy. 
Once or twice he thought of sending her another letter, but he 
dreaded to give offence ; then he determined to speak to her brother, 
and at once to ascertain his doom. An opportunity occurred to put 
his resolve into execution ; and, as he was aware that even Lieutenant 
Bullfit himself had been very sweet to the lady, he cautiously em- 
braced it. Mr. Metcalfe listened sedately and quietly to the rough, 
but natural eloquence of his friend the boatswain. The appeal 
excited neither anger nor animosity, but it produced no immediate 
reply ; and Pearson, who earnestly hoped that the matter would be 
promptly decided, was again labouring under an agony of suspense, 
which his attached mentor, honest Jack Moberly, in vain strove to 
dissipate. 

The fleet ascended the river, and anchored before the vast and 
scattered city of Nankin, crowned by its woody heights, and having, 
besides its own walled defences, a strong Tartar fortress in the south- 
east. These contained upwards of a million of inhabitants, of which 
the combined regulars and militia formed a body but little short of 
thirty thousand men, which the assailants had to attack with a force 
not exceeding four thousand five hundred. 



JOLLY BOAT. 49 

The landing took place ; demonstrations were admirably made, 
the men-of-war and steamers were anchored in excellent position for 
cannonading, and every arrangement carried into effect to promise 
success. Four or five days were thus occupied ; the Mercury had a 
prominent place assigned to her ; the ladies were consigned to the 
hold, where a space had been cleared for them ; and every thing was 
in full readiness to commence the assault, when despatches were 
received from Sir Henry Pottinger, the Plenipotentiary, announcing 
that the Chinese Commissioners had come to their senses, and the 
Emperor, alarmed at the rapid progress which the English had 
made, solicited a suspension of hostilities, and ordered the first 
instalment which had been agreed upon, to be instantly paid — the 
war in China was at an end. 

Pearson had vainly endeavoured to persuade himself that he had 
no real grounds for fear, though certainly his expectations were 
greatly damped by the young man's continued silence. As soon, 
however, as it became more than probable that there would be no 
more fighting, Mr. Metcalfe (who had made himself extremely useful 
as an interpreter during the negociations) solicited a private interview 
with the Admiral, which was granted. Of course, what passed 
under the seal of privacy ought to be held sacred, and therefore it is 
not intended to reveal it ; but Mr. Metcalfe, on his return to the 
ship, sought his old companion the boatswain, and found him sitting 
in his cabin, his head resting on the open palms of his hands, and 
altogether in a most doleful and dismal mood. 

" I cannot bear up against it, Jack," said he, without uncovering 
his face, and supposing that it was his mate who entered. " What 
will life be to me if I lose the beauty, and my heart loving her as it 
does? If she had remained a mere hull, without a farthing of freight, 
I would have joyously hailed her as my wife ; aye, Jack, I would 
have married her if she had no more canvass to set than a flannel 
petticoat. Nay, for the matter of that, I should have been proud to 
have taken her, even under bare poles. But now she has weathered 
the breeze, and shipped a rich cargo — " 

" She is yours still," exclaimed the young passenger, "You love 
each other, and God forbid I should ever separate you." 

The dejected Pearson started up the instant he heard the voice ; 
but his mind was so cast down that he did not at first comprehend 
the meaning of the words ; but the real state of the case was soon 
made manifest, by Mr. Metcalfe and his sister, accompanied by the 
gratified boatswain, going on shore to the suburbs of the city, where 
they could enjoy freer communication than on board the ship. The 
following day the enamoured couple were united by an English 
clergyman, who acted as chaplain ; a spacious and elegant place 
had been hastily fitted up for the marriage feast ; no expense was 
spared, every thing was conducted on the grandest scale ; and, 
though not exactly in accordance with etiquette, yet sometimes 
tolerated and even encouraged on a foreign service, the assemblage 
was of a rather miscellaneous character. The fat lady and her 



50 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

daughters, with other Chinese beauties— Tartars and Chinamen, 
officers of the army and navy ; seamen and soldiers — all joined in 
the general hilarity. There were the choicest wines and liquors — 
grog, cigars, tobacco ; every delicacy, tea included ; bowls of rice, 
and lots of chop-sticks ; fish, flesh, and fowl ; delicious fruits ; music 
and dancing, in which Mr. and Mrs. Richard Pearson figured it 
away in joyous delight (see my friend Robert Cruikshank's sketch) 

till they danced off altogether ; and , but not another word shall 

I say about the wedding. 

Pearson obtained leave of absence (on account of his health) from 
the Admiral, and Jack Moberly — honest Jack — succeeded him in 
his office as boatswain of the Mercury. The happy couple and 
Mr. Metcalfe had a favourable passage to Calcutta, where the latter 
speedily arranged all his business, and the three then embarked for 
England. On arrival, Richard Pearson, Esq., quitted the service, 
and being put in possession of his wife's property, retired from busy 

life to a pretty place he purchased in , where he enjoys all 

the blessings and comforts of existence, generously dispensing his 
bounty to every worthy object. 



RECOLLECTIONS OF SERVICE. 

BY A MARINE OFFICER. 

On the 26th of September, 1806, having stood out to sea somewhat 
further than usual, we perceived, when returning towards the land at 
day-break, several strange sail, and made the signal for the nearest 
ship to them (The Monarch) to give chase ; as the light increased, we 
thought they bore the appearance of men-of-war, and flattered 
ourselves we had at length gained the object of some months of 
tedious watching and blockade ; for we scarcely doubted that it was 
the Rochefort squadron, which we had been long and anxiously 
endeavouring to decoy out of their stronghold. Our squadron now 
made all sail in chase, with a spanking breeze, studding sails below 
and aloft, the Monarch some miles in advance — we made the signal 
to clear for action (a rather serious sort of operation, you must know, 
on board a line-of- battle ship, as most of the officers' cabins, etc., are 
on the fighting deck, and their contents are necessarily bundled below 
somewhat rudely ; indeed it is something like emptying your house 
out of the windows and then pulling it about your ears) ; and about 
nine o'clock the Monarch made the signal that the objects of our chase 
were enemy's frigates, which, though not what we had hitherto an- 
ticipated, yet that they were enemies was still encouraging, and as 
we were evidently gaining upon them, afforded us the hopes of a 
bit of a brush and a little prize-money. We were steering to the 
southward, and the enemy appeared inclined to stick together. We 
now made out four fine-looking frigates and two brigs — the Monarch, 
the Mars, and the old Centaur outsailed the rest of the squadron 
considerably, and the Monarch having a considerable start, was first 
enabled to bring them to action, which she did about noon, and got 




*-yn£< iJi ptz&vs-tfsc/rLJ 



w//v 






JOLLY BOAT. 51 

very roughly handled before we came up, when one of the frigates and 
the two brigs hauled off to the westward ; we made the Mars signal 
to follow them, ourselves pressing forward to join the Monarch, which 
ship was very much cut up about the rigging — from a " strong wind, 
and a chopping sea," she was unable to bear her lower deck ports 
open, which disadvantage almost rendered a large frigate her equal. 

One of the frigates, L'Armide, struck as we were coming up, but 
the other two kept up the game manfully, and served us about as bad 
as they had served the Monarch ; indeed, they almost unrigged us ; 
and one of them (La Minerve), after passing close across our stern, 
and raking us, took a position on our starboard quarter — at which 
time a musket-shot from her, wounded the Commodore (Sir Samuel 
Hood), shattering his right arm at the elbow, which obliged him soon 
afterwards to go below. La Minerve presently struck her colours, and 
we made what sail we could after the other frigate (L'Indefatigable), 
which yielded without resistance. The two brigs escaped us, but one 
of them (Le Lynx) was afterwards captured by the boats of the 
Galatse frigate, in the West Indies, after a most determined resistance ; 
so that a tolerable good account was rendered of the little squadron. 
In the action, the Monarch had twenty-six killed and wounded ; the 
Centaur four killed, and the Commodore and five or six others 
wounded. Sir Samuel's arm was amputated immediately after the 
action. The loss on the part of the enemy's frigates was near one 
hundred and fifty killed and wounded ; their crowded state (having 
each three hundred and fifty troops on board, besides their crews, 
amounting to about the same number), sufficiently accounts for this 
great loss on their part. 

Lieutenant H. C. Thompson and myself were sent to take possession 
of La Gloire, which you may suppose we found in terrible disorder- 
she had six feet water in her hold, and it was increasing fast, and 
before we could get her to rights, she took fire forwards, and was in 
great danger of blowing up, as her magazines were not yet secured— 
and so great was the consternation on the part of the prisoners, 
particularly the French troops, that numbers jumped overboard, but 
by the strenuous exertions of the boats of the squadron, which had 
now come up, they were all saved ; and with our men, and such of the 
French as we could get to assist, we after some time got the fire under, 
having first drowned magazines. In consequence of the number of 
prisoners and others on board the Centaur, the Commodore sent my 
brother Sub (Rorie) on board the prize, and ordered me back to the 
Centaur ; when, in consequence of Sir Samuel's wound, we left the 
squadron in command of the next senior officer, and proceeded to 
Spithead with our prize La Gloire. 

The morning after our arrival (which had been communicated to the 
Admiralty by telegraph) Lady Hood came alongside, at three o'clock 
in the morning, in a wherry; being too anxious to wait for the 
accommodation due to her rank, she would not even wait to be hoisted 
on board, as is usual for ladies, and in attempting to mount the side of 
the ship, she slipped overboard, but escaped with only a partial ducking. 



DICK FIT TON 

A GHOST STOEY. 

BY "THE OLD SAILO B." 



CHAPTER I. 



My old shipmate, Dick, belonged to the gunner's crew, in a smart 
thirty-eight gun frigate — when sober, as clever a seaman as ever took a 
trick at the weather wheel, or flew aloft to furl a main course ; but 
when drunk — and drunk he would be whenever he could get the stuff 
— a sad mutinous, though humorous dog, caring for neither angel of 
light nor angel of darkness, and ready for any thing that promised 
mischief or fun. Dick often tasted the tails of the cat ; and sometimes, 
when brought up to the gangway, the Captain would reason with him, 
promising to look over that particular fault, if he would pledge his 
word not to get drunk again. Now a lubber, under such circumstances, 
would readily have promised, whether he meant to perform or not ; but 
Dick was a bold and an honourable seaman, who scorned to falsify 
his word. He would listen earnestly to the Captain's harangue, and 
then shaking his head in a business-like way, he would exclaim, as he 
began to strip, " Carn't do it, yer honour ; so it's of no manner of use 
my promising ; and that's all about it." It was in vain that his grog 
was stopped — Fitton always managed to bowse his jib up by some 
means or other ; and unfortunately for him, as soon as he had brought 
the skin of his nose to a taut leech, he generally contrived to throw 
himself in the way of the officers, for the avowed purpose of convincing 
them that he was perfectly sober. 

The efforts of a man in a state of ebriety to imitate intoxication are 
frequently extremely ludicrous; but certainly nothing in life is so 
eminently ridiculous as a drunken man fancying himself the very 
perfection of sobriety : and this was the case with Dick ; for though 
when recovered from his potations he was fully sensible that he had 
been " tosticated," yet, whilst in a state of elevation, no persuasions in 
the world could induce him to believe that he was not as sober and as 
precise as a bishop in his pulpit — in fact, at these times he claimed to 
be " inspired;" and had there been any penalty attached to the crime 
of mutilating the king's English, Dick would have been mulcted of a 
fortune, for during his moments of inspiration, oh ! how marvellously 
did he cut and mangle his words, and then splicing the disjointed 



JOLLY BOAT. 53 

syllables together again, in the most monstrous and unnatural manner, 
he might have readily passed for a high Dutchman, or a low Dutch- 
man, or any other barbarian. 

Such was Dick Fitton; but there was one occasion in which he escaped 
punishment for the indulgence of his easily besetting sin. We were 
cruizing off the south-west coast of France, between L' Orient and 
Noinnoutier, to pick up the coasting trade and watch the French 
fleet, and not unfrequently we anchored within the Isle of Hedic, 
a small island about three leagues from Belleisle, and forming, with 
Houat and the Taigneuse rocks, an admirable breakwater for 
Quiberon Bay. Its distance from the French coast and Belleisle 
rendered it a sort of neutral ground, or rather belonging to the 
party that held it for the time being. There were strict orders, 
however, that no one belonging to the British ships was to be 
ashore beyond sunset; for it was nothing uncommon for the 
French row-boats, from Belleisle or Quiberon, to pull to the back of 
the island after dark, and gain what information could be obtained 
from the inhabitants — of course, any stragglers they could pick up 
■were made prisoners. 

The village was poor, but still — notwithstanding the threats that had 
been held out for selling it, — eau de vie, and that real good Nantes, 
too, was abundant ; and, as a very natural consequence, the seamen 
indulged to excess at every sly opportunity. Now, it so happened that 
a party (of which Dick was one) was employed on shore for some 
particular purpose — I forget what — and Fitton, a short time previous 
to embarkation, had attained that exalted pre-eminence of intellect 
which induced him to thrust his officious exertions right under the 
immediate cognizance of the lieutenant commanding, who insisted on 
knowing from whom, and from whence, he had obtained the liquor. 
Dick unhesitatingly declared his perfect sobriety, that " he was not in 
the least distosticated ; " and as a proof, whilst staggering along to 
show how straight he could walk, nearly knocked over one of his ship- 
mates, whom he charged with trying to trip him up. He was 
instantly ordered down to the boats ; and as obedience could not be 
resisted, away went Dick. 

The sun was just touching the verge of the horizon, when the 
lieutenant reported his return on board to the Captain, and at the 
same time announced that Fitton was drunk. 

"Confound the fellow!" exclaimed the skipper ; " I really do not 
know what to do with him, he is thoroughly incorrigible ; but there 
must be example, Sir ; we cannot carry on duty without it. Tell the 
first lieutenant to clap the drunken rascal both legs in irons, and on no 
account to suffer him to set his foot on shore again ; though it is but 
of little consequence, on shore or aboard he will get drunk." 

The officer delivered his orders to his senior ; the Master-at-arms was 
sent for, and received instructions to put Dick in the darbies ; but 
after a diligent search, and an equal diligent inquiry, no Dick was to 
be found, nor could it be correctly ascertained that he had gone off in 
any of the boats. The small cutter was promptly despatched to the 



54 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

landing-place, with directions to the midshipman in charge not to go 
beyond that spot, and after waiting half an hour, if Fitton did not 
come down, to return on board. The injunctions were strictly 
complied with, but no Dick made his appearance ; the boat came back, 
and was hoisted up on the quarter. Notwithstanding Dick's failing, 
he was greatly esteemed by both officers and men as an excellent 
seaman, who never shrunk from the performance of a duty, however 
difficult or dangerous ; and his absence, and probable fate, became the 
theme of the yarn-spinners for the rest of the evening, till the quarter- 
watch was called, and the subject was frequently reverted to during 
the night. 

It was just as the day began to break on the following morning that, 
having the watch on deck, I was expressing my regret to my watch- 
mate for Fitton's loss — as the conjecture prevalent was, that he had 
fallen overboard and been drowned — when one of the look-outs on the 
fore-castle shouted, " Sail, ho ! " and taking my glass forward, I 
ascertained that the stranger was a large boat with three masts 
standing, but only her foresails hoisted about half way up, and she 
was running directly in for the anchorage. At first we apprehended 
that some vessel had been wrecked, and the remnant of the crew were 
making for the land ; but as the daylight grew stronger and clearer, 
and the boat closed nearer and nearer, it became evident that she was 
an enemy's row boat, but not a soul could be seen except the individual 
who was steering it, and he was rather conspicuous from the immense 
cocked hat upon his head, and his being closely enveloped in a boat 
cloak. 

What to make of it, no one could tell ; the circumstance was duly 
reported to the Captain, who promptly came on deck, and orders were 
issued to have all clear at the quarter and stern boats, so as to lower 
and man them at a moment's warning ; but as the enemy's vessel was 
coming direct for us, it was deemed advisable to keep all fast, lest 
any alarm should be excited. However, on she fearlessly came, 
and a more beautiful model certainly never moved upon the water ; her 
brass six-pounder shone bright in the early sun-rise, and the muske- 
toons on her gunwale seemed prepared for action. As for the man 
in the cocked hat, he steered with the most imperturbable gravity, 
occasionally addressing some one or other who could not be seen, 
and it was supposed that the boat's crew were stretched out in 
secresy in the bottom. 

Every glass was in requisition, and the field of each was directed 
at that cold-blooded Frenchman who was steering right down upon 
us, apparently with the utmost concern. "He takes the frigate 
for a national craft," said one of the lieutenants , " shall we just 
show him the French ensign, Sir ?" 

" No ; no," answered the captain ; " keep all snug ; he cannot 
escape us now, as he is well within the range of the guns, and will 
soon be alongside." 

In a few minutes she was near enough to be hailed, but still not 
a word passed ; onward came the boat with that enormous cocked 






JOLLY BOAT. 55 

hat in the stem sheets, and now we could plainly discern the tri- 
coloured cockade ; onward she came till a little open on our larboard 
bow, when down went her foresail, and she rounded to. 

" Boat a-hoy ! " shouted the sentry on the larboard gangway, 
and was promptly answered, " No, no." 

" He's English, Sir," exclaimed a boatswain's mate from the 
forecastle, as the craft came gradually dropping down. " Halloo ! " 
he bellowed out, " What boat's that — who are you ?" 

There was deep silence for a moment, and then it was broken by the 
steersman answering, " Now, Lord love your silly head, Jem, never to 
know an ould messmate;" it was Dick Fitton — he caught sight of the 
skipper standing at the gangway, and instantly the cocked hat was 
removed, as he uttered, " She's our own, yer honour ; I took her myself." 

A burst of laughter followed this announcement, in which the Captain 
heartily joined. "And where are your prisoners?" demanded the 
latter. 

" Rousez woo, Johnny," shouted Fitton, pointing a pistol towards 
the boat's bows ; and two Frenchmen — one with his head bound up in 
a bloody handkerchief — immediately showed themselves. " Ive ex- 
pended all the rest on 'em ashore, your honour," continued Dick; 'and 
if so be as you'll send the boats, you may soon pick 'em up." 

The small cutter was again lowered, and a party of seamen was 
despatched to the prize, to strike her masts and bring her alongside ; 
but Fitton was directed to return to the frigate, which he readily did, 
and, on reaching the quarter deck, it was impossible to help laughing 
at the curious figure he cut. A large blue cloak, lined with scarlet, 
enveloped his person ; and round the waist was belted a heavy hanger, 
a brace of pistols, and a bayonet — the cocked hat, as a matter of respect 
to the skipper, was removed from his head and carried under his left 
arm ; and Dick's comical face, half serious, half humorous, as he gave 
an extra twist to his quid, and put his right hand to his forelock, sailor 
fashion, was droll enough ; and there he stood, with his two prisoners, 
before his Commander, who found it very difficult to preserve a steady 
countenance. 

" Mr. Anson reported you drunk last night," said the Captain ; " what 
have you to say for yourself." 

" Look at the prize, yer honour," answered Dick, with appropriate 
assurance ; " does Mr. Anson think that a man in a state of distostica- 
tion could go for to capture an enemy's craft ?" 

" But where was you last night, when the shore party returned on 
board ?" demanded the Captain. 

" In course, yer honour, I was cruising," returned Dick ; " for someut 
run in my head " 

" Aye, I believe there was something running in your head ; why 
you are not altogether sober now," exclaimed the skipper, " you have 
broken the orders, sir, you have " 

" Taken a prize, yer honour," said Dick, finishing the Captain's 
sentence, and looking up archly in his face ; " and there's the rest of 
the prisoner's ashore, if nobody aint never gone to take 'em off." 



56 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

"Man the boats, Mr. Spicer," shouted the Captain to the first 
lieutenant ; and the boats were speedily manned and pulling for the 
shore, with Dick, in his new costume, acting as guide. The island 
was searched, and a French lieutenant, with twenty-one men, were 
taken and carried on board the frigate. Dick was called upon to state 
the manner in which he had got possession of the enemy's vessel, and 
this he did apparently to the satisfaction of the Captain ; but I prefer 
giving the tale as he narrated it to his messmates in their berth, over 
his afternoon grog; and as he had contrived to muster an extra bottle 
of rum, the two Frenchmen he had captured were generously invited 
to share it with them. 

" Come, Johnny, bring yer onspressibles to an anchor, will you," 
said Dick to his French guests ; " there, draw a chair, and sit down upon 
the shot-case, my hearty. Why, never say die ! I honours yer bravery, 
for you behaved like men, that's Frenchmen I means ; and it aint many 
a single hand as would have captured a couple o' sich smart looking 
lads as you two." 

The unfortunate prisoners did not understand one word that was 
uttered ; but the motion of the hand, directing them to sit down, was 
comprehended and complied with, and they responded, " liemercie, 
remercie," the first syllable much abbreviated in utterance. 

"Well, and I did show you mercy," said Fitton, "and I means to 
show you mercy ; why, I'm bless'd, Jem," addressing the boatswain's 
mate, " if they aint like them black fellows, who think when the grub 
is sarved out, that they're going to be fattened for the cook's coppers ; 
what the blue blazes do they cry out for mercy for now, I should like 
to know ? howsomever, never mind, they'll have no mercy on the beef, 
I'll take my davy. Come, heave ahead, mountseer, munjey, munjey." 

The Frenchmen seemed pleased with the invitation, for bad as Dick's 
French was, they understood it ; and in the politest manner possible 
repeated the former expression, " Remercie, remercie, inon ami." 

" Mercy, mercy, mongamee, now what the deuce do they mean by 
that, Jem ?" asked the puzzled seaman of his messmate. " Well, I'm 
bio wed but they beat my laming into splinters ; why, last night when 
I fetches one on 'em a click o' the head as sent him under the thorts, 
and called to the other to strike, they both sings out as loud as they 
could bawl, ' Noo run dong, noo run dong.' " 

" Oui mon ami, nous rendons," said one of the prisoners, shrugging 
up his shoulders. " Vous parlez bien, Frangois ?" 

" Parley bang Franchay, Johnny ?" uttered Dick. " Well, I'm 
bless'd, but I thought you'd have know'd better than that arter the click 
under the ear as you got last night. No, no, Johnny, I doesn't go for 
to parley much in the regard o' banging on 'em ; my thoughts and my 
cutlash are always pretty much in the same latitude when I sees the 
enemy." 

" I tell you what it is, messmate," said the boatswain's mate, 
addressing Dick ; " to my thinking, you're on the wrong tack in respect 
of his meaning ; he says, ' Parley bang, Franchay,' which I take to be, 
c Up, and tell 'em all about it.' * Parley,' you know, means k speaking 




Sfaki 



• - i s 9^ay ^jy-aasz/, jOotu - > 



JOLLY BOAT. 57 

out,' or ' spinning a yarn ;' and ' bang Franchay ' is as easy as ' kiss 
ray hand.' So, d'ye see, Dick, why jist overhaul the consarn to us ; 
not as you did to the skipper, in Tom Pepper fashion, to make him 
think you was sober ; but let's have the right arnest jometry of the 
thing, for we all on us knows, Dick, that you wur more nor three parts 
slued. The last time I seed you was when you'd brought up alongside 
of that pretty little French girl, and was coaxing her for a drop more 
stuff out of her mother's locker ; and then, messmate, your head sails 
were all lifting, and another spoke or two of lee helm would have 
brought you slap aback.'' 

" I arn't never going for to deny it, ould boy," answered Dick, with 
a grin ; " though I pitched it into the skipper that I was all cobbler s 
mentis. Howsomever, it's of no use to keep a false reckoning ; I were 
groggy, and that's the truth on it. But you know, messmate, I arn't 
altogether sensible to being so when my jib's taut up ; and in course 
when the leftenant called me a drunken son of a female dog, and 
ordered me down to the boat, why, I thought I'd just conwince him 
of his oncapableness of judging whether a man was sober or not; and 
so I detarmined to study a bit of the jography of the island, by taking 
a cruise to myself, which no man as was drunk could possibly do, 
seeing as he'd get bothered in regard o' shaping a proper course. 
Well, shipmates, I hauls my tacks aboard, and makes a long reach 
amongst rocky ground, and a head swell as kept me pitching bows 
under, till I could hardly carry my canvass ; and there I was heaving 
and setting like a Dutch schuyt off the Taxel, and rolling gunnels 
under, like a deep Injeeman running down from the Cape to Saint 
Helena. At last, my compass card spun round in the most onnatural 
way, till it made me dizzy ; and I'm bless'd if I didnt see a craft right 
ahead of me, as loomed in the haze like one of your 'long-shore Davy 
Jonesesis, ownly the horns got to dancing and bobbing about in a 
muzzy tistical kind of a way, as if there had been three or four couple 
on 'em twisting, and turning, and capering in ever so many double 
hornpipes, and up to all sorts of antics; and, ' Yo hoy!' I sings out, 
* who the blazes are you ? ' for I thought it best to hail him civilly at 
first, though I know'd precious well what the ugly beggar was. But 
the undeckerous chap made me no answer, ownly blow'd out a cloud of 
smoke, like the fogo from a thirty-two pounder ; and then there was a 
report, and a someut a good deal like the hissing of a shot from his 
muzzle, as warn't one muzzle eather, but seemed, to my idea of the 
thing, to be three or four muzzles all a keeping company in their 
motions with the owld fellow's head-bumkins ; and, ' Hallo, your 
reverence ! ' shouts I, as I always thinks it properest to fillycumbother 
them sort of varmint with hand-over-hand politeness whensomever I 
falls in with them, which has been pretty often in the course of my 
cruizing. * Hallo, your reverence ! ' says I, ' what does your holiness 
want with a poor tar, as is belly gojimcrackt in this here no man's land 
sort of a place, as belongs never to nobody ; nighther English, nor 
French, nor Dutch, though it arnt onpossible but your honour may have 
some call to it by your being here ? Howsomever, he never answered 
8 



58 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

my bail, and I did'nt like his oncontemptible silence; so, 'Mayhap/ 
says I, ' my lord, you may think as I'm groggy ; but, love your heart, 
Dick's more soberer than twenty judges ; I don't deny as I'm a little 
wizziwazzy-flumatical, but that's in regard of the fog, as is so thick 
that it wont let me keep a strait course — .' And here, shipmates, the 
wagabon stopp'd my discourse by discharging another bow chaser, the 
smoke of it coming like hot steam right in my face. ' A miss is as 
good as a mile,' says I ; ' and as your worship don't never seem to be 
overfond of my sociability, why, I'll just wear round, and make sail 
out of this. Heaven bless your handsome phiz,' says I, as I bore up, 
when I'm blow'd if the onconscionable owld rip didn't clap his helm 
a-weather arter me, and, pitching his head-rails right slap into my 
starn gallery, gives me a reglar hoist aloft till I'd lost my plumpindicklar, 
and capsized horrumzontally all along the ground ; and there I 
caulk'd, as it were, onsensible, till my thoughts began to come to me 
once more, and something seemed to whisper in my ear, ' Have a 
slap at him again, Dick, for rampajerous as he's behaved to you, 
the blaggard's a coward at heart' — ' Is he ?' says I ; ' then here goes.' 
Not as I was in any way frightened afore, if so be as he'd clapp'd me 
alongside, and fought fairly; but, as I towld you, messmates, he raked me 
onawares ; and so up I jumps, and there the scamp was, backing and 
filling, and all ready to run aboard of me. And now I could see him 
plain enough, with a great red face, like the cook's galley fire, and a nose 
like a joint of meat down afore it a roasting — eyes that would have 
sarved for mess platters, and a mouth like a bisket-baker's oven. My 
precious wig ! often as I'd seen him, I never saw him such a monstrous 
sight in my life ; and there was his bumkins, with a huge Spanish cock'd 
hat upon each one of 'em ; and he was rigged out in flame-color'd 
togs, though it was easy enough to diskiver his onprincipled shanks and 
cloven hoofs, as it was bootless to try and hide from sight ; he had 
a tormentor in each hand, and there was his outrigger abaft swagging 
about like the spanker-boom in a calm ; and he looked at me just 
the same as a flash of lightning. Well, shipmates. I squares at him. 
and he comes on at me ; and ' Ware hawse, you lubber,' shouts I, as I 
gives it him right and left, and every biow fizzed and sparkled, 
and brought out a smell of brimstone. All at once he raised his 
tormentors, and, sticking 'em into my indescribabilities, he flings me — 
oh, I can't tell you the distance ; but down I came again, shaking every 
timber in my frame ; and seeing as it was no use trying to man-handle the 
enemy, I buttons up my eyelids, and, as I had two watches out the night 
afore, I made up my mind to bottle off a little sleep. So, messmates, 
I composes myself accordingly, and snoozes away like a parish clerk 
in sarmon time, till I'd laid in a goodish stock, and then I rouses out, 
and looks round me, but seed nothing but a poor harmless cow, with 
her calf alongside of her, nibbling the grass, and I wondered how the 
deuce I got there : but arter a little while I bethinks myself of all about 
it, and not knowing how many bells it was, it struck me mayhap the 
cutter arnt shoved off, and so here goes off for the landing place ; so I 
hauls my wind, steering rather wild at first, but getting to a small 



JOLLY BOAT. 59 

helm as I made more sail, but not a bit of a landing place could I 
diskiver, and it was too dark to make out the frigate. But still, 
messmates, I war'nt a going to give in ; so I sarcumpolegates the island, 
and there I seed a boat lying close in shore ; And ' it's all right now,' 
says my thoughts to myself; * there's the cutter just ready to shove 
off, so quietly stow yourself away in the bows, Dick, and that'll save 
the officer the trouble of axing questions.' So, accordingly, messmates, 
I shapes my course towards her, and as I went permiscuously along, 
my foot strikes agin summet comical, and so I picks it up, and what 
should it be but a cutlash ; ' Halloo,' says I, under my breath, for I 
did'nt want to let them know I was so close aboard of 'em. ' Halloo, 
but they're making pretty ducks and drakes of the gunner's stores,' 
says I ; but, when I came to handle it Jem, it was soon made wisibly 
onparent, dark as it was, that it did not belong to the frigate ; so I was 
put to a nonplush as to what nation it hailed for. But I war'nt long 
in the doldrums, messmates, for I hears a gabbling in an outlandish 
lingo on board the boat that made me take an amagraphy of her build 
and rig — so I stretches myself out horrumzontally again, and keeps a 
sharp look out, crawling along every now and then like an oyster 
laming to run alone, till I'd got close under the bows; and then Jem, it 
was as plain to me as is the nose on Bill's face ; and ' Yo-hoy ! ' says I 
to myself, ' its Johnny Cropoh,' says I ; ' and now to walk the bally- 
grimauffery of the thing ! ' " — One of the Frenchmen shrugged his 
shoulders ; " Ha, you know it's all true, Johnny." 

" Pardonnez moi, mon ami," returned the prisoner, whose head was 
bound up, " Je ne comprends pas les Anglais," — he raised his pannikin 
of grog — " mais boire a la ronde." 

" Round Johnny — ay boy, but we'd two or three rounds afore I'd 
done with you," said Dick, with a half laugh ; " and as for boring 
all round, why I didn't disactly know how many there was on you ; 
for, to my thinking, what with the grog, and what with Davy Jones, 
and what with the heat of the attack, there appeared to my hoptical 
wision to be four or five, though when I corned to close quarters, there 
warn't never no more nor you two. But I'm saying Johnny, being 
dubersome as to the number you mustered, why I did bore all round, 
as you call it, for there's no telling what a stray shot may do in the 
heat of action. Now messmates, the row boat laid just as this here 
fashion — supposing this bread-bay was a rock, with one side on it 
plumpendicklar — shove that biskit out a little more, Jem, and flatten 
in, my boy. Well this bread-bay is the rock running out into the 
water, and this here bottle — see as the bung's tight, Jem — this here 
bottle's the row boat — all w r ell and good." 

" Now it stands to reason, messmates, if so be as any one on you 
was up atop o'this here biskit as has got somut like a face on it, why in 
course you could jump down on to that ere bottle, which I see is half 
empty " — the men nodded assent to both positions — " Well, just as this 
here row boat lies alongside the bread-bag — no, no, I don't mean that — ■ 
it's just as this here bottle lies close to and under the rock — oh ! bother, 
I don't mean that either ; but I'm saying, shipmates, it's just as this 



60 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

here bottle lies alongside o' the bread-bag that the row boat laid close 
aboard of the rock ; and thinks I to myself, if I could get a top o' the 
bread-bag — -no, I means the rock — why then I should be better able to 
overhaul em below, and fall foul o' the bottle, that is, I means the row 
boat, if opportunity should sarve ; so I crawls — ah ! jist the same as 
that ere weavil's a crawling to a bit o' bread afore it — I crawled and 
crawled, moving along horrumzontally, and launching ahead withal till 
I gained my point ; and so I peeps over and twigs the brass gun, and 
as I thought, three chaps that crouched abaft in the stern sheets — two 
sitting on the thort, and tother caulking in a boat cloak. Well, 
messmates, I watches 'em for some time ; and. thinks I to myself, ' If I 
can but separate 'em into divisions, I might board and capture the 
weather ones first, and then bear down upon the squadrons to looard ; ' 
for arter all, shipmates, three to one is somut of odds. So I catches 
up a piece of broken rock, and pitches it right into the boat's bows, 
and one o' the Johnnies jumps up, and sings out ' Hooky wee.' " 

" Non, non mon ami, c'est ne pas ga," exclaimed the Frenchman, 
who had been attentively listening, and had gleaned from Dick's 
motions what was describing ; " Je dit, qui vive." 

"What does he say, Jem?" inquired Fitton ; "I used to know 
somut about the French lingo at one time ; but to my thinking, 
messmate, he does not speak it clandexterously ; and that's the reason 
I don't understand him." 

" Mayhap so, Dick — mayhap so," responded the boatswain's mate ; 
*' I arn't much skilled in matters o' that ere kind ; but it's clear enough, 
Dick, he carn't speak French, English fashion, or else we might savvy 
somut about it." 

" All right, my hearty," returned Dick ; " and so I'll go on with my 
yarn. ' Hookey wee,' or ' kee we,' or somut o' that sort, sings out the 
Frenchman, as much as to say, ' Catch a weasel asleep ; ' but not 
nobody never answered, for I stowed myself away all snug again. 
Presently I sends another shot into her bows, and ' Hookey wee,' sings 
out the Frenchman again. But this time I hears one of 'em rattling 
along the thorts ; and thinks I to myself, ' Look, out Dick, they're 
parting company, stand by to pipe the boarders away ;' and so, 
messmates, I grips hold o' my cutlash, and I peeps over, and there I 
seed one right forud, as it may be here away on the cork," pointing to 
the top of the bottle. 

" Diable !" exclaimed the embarrassed Frenchman, who appeared to 
understand most that passed ; " Cette a moi," pointing to himself. 

" Why, aye, Muster Setter Moore, if that's your name — you was the 
man as was forud in the eyes of her," said Dick ; " and Johnny here 
was chock aft, so up I springs and makes a leap aboard ; and ' hookey 
wee,' says I, as I gives Johnny a click with the cutlash over his cocoa- 
nut ; but the head was precious thick, and he comes at me like a good 
un, but I was too quick for him, and it wondered me to think why 
the fellow under the boat- cloak did'nt turn out to lend him a hand. 
Howsomever, Setter Moore — as he says his name is — runs aft, only he 
made a slip bend in his hurry, and came down upon the thorts, but 



JOLLY BOAT. 61 

was soon up again, though not afore I'd sent Johnny down in the run 
with a splendid illumeneration dancing in his eyes. On comes t'other, 
and ' Hookey wee,' says I again, as I sent my fist right in his face ; 
for d'ye mind, Jem, my cutlash broke short off at the haft, and it warn't 
by no manner o' means fit to trust a fellow's life to ; and back again 
he went under the thorts, just as Setter Moore roused out to have 
t'other slap at me, which he did by discharging a pistol, but the ball 
whistled by without stopping to ax any questions, so I jumps into the 
starn sheets, lugs the pistol out of Johnny's hands, and gives him a 
taste of the butt on his sconce that quieted him. ' Hurrah ! ' shouted 
I, ' Hookey wee for ever. Lay still you lubber, rustay, rustay, or I'll 
shoot you like a dead dog.' And still enough both on 'em laid. 
* Well, I'm blessed,' thinks I, ' but she's my own — they've all struck 
except the chap under the boat cloak, and, mayhap, he's " Hookey wee." * 
4 Yo hoy !' says I, giving a kick, ' rouse and bitt ;' but lord love your 
hearts, shipmates, there warn't never nothing more than this here 
cocked hat ; and ' Hurrah ! ' says I again, ' Dick's sober enough to take 
a prize ; where's your " Hookey wee " now ?' — So I gets the end o' the 
main sheet, and I seized Setter Moore's arms behind him, and claps 
him by the main-mast, and then I does the same by Johnny, with the 
mizen halliards abaft ; and, ' Mayhap,' says my thoughts, or my throat, 
or somut or other, ' mayhap they arn't never got a drop of stuff stowed 
away in the lockers.' So I overhauls, and works a traverse, and I'm 
blowed if I didn't find a bottle 'o brandy, and that was the best prize 
of all. ' Here's a health to " Hookey wee," ' says I, as I claps the 
muzzle to mine, and takes a lime-burner's twist ; ' and now for turning 
the hands up to haul out.' But, shipmates, I hadn't never no hands 
except these here two fistes, so I warn't long in having 'em all upon 
deck, and then I turns to, to find how she was moored ; well, there 
was a head-rope forrud, and that I soon roused in, and she'd a grapling 
and a hawser out astarn, so I claps on like a good un, and the craft 
seemed to know she'd got into honest company, for she glides out as 
pretty as a ship-launch, and afore you could say ' Jack Robinson,' I was 
all afloat, and swinging clear of the shore. Howsomever, it wouldn't 
do, messmates, to ride there very long ; and as I couldn't weigh the 
killick, why I just peaks the mizen to keep her to the wind, and then 
I cuts the cable, and she rounded-to clear of all, and seemed for all 
the world in her behaviour as if she wanted to make acquaintance with 
the frigate. Well, shipmates, the tide was in my favour, and I soon 
made out that she'd drift clear ; so I 'xamines the lashings of my 
prisoners, makes all fast, and takes a pull at the brandy to ' hookey 
wee ' atween whiles ; and then I stows myself in the boat-cloak, and 
takes the cock'd hat for a pillow, and gets a snooze and a nip of brandy 
alcumternately, and so I goes on till near day-break, when I onlashes 
Setter Moore, and gets him to lend me a hand to hoist the foresail, and 
then I gives 'em both a toothful o' stuff, just to keep the cowld out of 
'em ; but as soon as I catches sight of the frigate, I gave 'em both 
their liberty, with only this proviso, that if they started tack or sheet, 
I'd blow 'em to shivers ; so I wraps myself in the cloak, and claps the 



G2 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

cock'd hat over my mast-head, and took my berth at the tiller as big as 
an admiral, till I brings niy prize alongside ; and thinks I, here's a con- 
vincecating argyment, that Dick Fitton. gunner's mate of his Majesty's 
ship the Toebiter, wasn't drunk last night. There, messmates, that's 
all about it; and so here's another tot o' grog to ' Hookey wee.' " 

The facts were pretty much as Dick had related them : Davy Jones 
was the old cow defending her calf; the row boat had come to the 
back of the island, the Lieutenant and his men had crossed over to 
the houses to gain information as to our movements, two boat keepers 
had been left in the boat, whom Dick had captured in his prize, which 
afterwards became of the utmost service to us. 

British Seamen. — When the "Golden" Hermione, in the Seven 
Years' War, took the Spanish galleon, as the sailors call her, the foremast- 
men shared to the tune of five hundred pounds a piece, a sum which, of 
course, they concluded could never be expended in the common routine 
of domestic life. In order to conquer this difficulty, they devised 
many ingenious methods, such as filling a pan with watches from each 
fob, and frying them over the galley-fire ; subscribing a sum of money 
to gild the ship's head and carved work ; and it was moreover resolved, 
that every man on board should wear a gold-laced hat, and every 
cocoa-nut was, with all convenient speed, provided with a gold-laced 
cocked hat, save one — this unhappy wight presented himself to his 
shipmates with a silver-laced hat. This would not do — the ship was 
disgraced by such d — d stinginess ! " Let's ask the first ^/tenant not 
to let him come on board." The supposed culprit begged a hearing — 
Jack loves fair play ; silence was obtained, and the delinquent thus 
pleaded his cause : — " There wasn't a gold-laced hat in the town, so I 
was forced to take this here ; but I made the fellow take the money for 
a gold-lacer all the same." On these last words reaching the ears of 
his comrades, he was received on board with a universal greeting. 

In that disgraceful affair off Toulon, in 1744, the old-fashioned 
maxim of keeping the ships in line of battle was obstinately adhered to. 
Captain Hawke, in the Berwick, of sixty-four guns, beheld with great 
indignation this cruel wrong to his country, and seeing no prospect of a 
general action, boldly, and in defiance of orders, quitted his station, and 
selected the Poder, a Spanish ship of equal force, as his adversary. 
After a very smart engagement of half-an-hour, he took her, and had 
possession. She was retaken, owing to the mismanagement of the two 
English admirals, but Hawke's honour was not retaken in her. After 
the memorable court-martial had decided on the merit of the admirals, 
a flag promotion took place, in which the name of Captain Hawke was 
passed over. His majesty, King George, demanded of his minister why 
that officer's name was omitted ? The reply was, that, on the late trial, 
it appeared that Captain Hawke had disobeyed orders by quitting the line 
to fight the Poder. " What !" said the indignant monarch, " disgrace a 
man for fighting too much ! ! ! he shall be my admiral ;" and the royal 
justice and discernment were rewarded by the defeat of Conflans,in 1 759. 
It is said that his majesty, on hearing the news, pulled off his wig, and 
kicked it about the palace of Kensington for joy, congratulating himself 
on having been the instrument of so much good fortune to his country. 



JOLLY BOAT, 63 



YARNS FOE ALL HANDS. 

BY THE OLD SAILOR. 

THE ELECTIONEERING LIEUTENANT. 

" Rush to the poll, and come to the scratch." 



" Hurrah for Bradby ! " shouted a Radical elector of a borough upon 
the sea coast in the West of England. " Bradby and universal 
suff'ring for ever — hurrah!" 

" No Bradby ! — no Bradby ! — Hammer and Nailer — Church and 
State, and no surrender ! " vociferated a Tory, with a voice that 
evidenced most "powerful lungs. " Every man reform hisself, and 
Heaven reform us all ; that's my ticket — Hurrah for Hammer and 
Nailer." 

Reader, it was the period of a general election, when the independent 
voters of the United Kingdom sold their franchise to the highest 

bidders. The beautiful little town of , usually quiet and 

peaceable at other times, was always stirred out of its calm propriety 
when these events took place ; for then Mr. Mayor became a real 
gentleman of self-satisfied importance, and forsaking his candle, 
grocery, and treacle warehouse, donned his best robes, and associated 
with men of high degree ; heading the free table at dinner-time, and 
at public (house) meetings as Chairman, and acting as fugleman to 
regulate the cheers of the company after his own toasts, or at the 
proper moment, when any thing peculiarly laudable or smart had 
been uttered by the speakers. 

The official on the present occasion was a grocer and a tallow- 
chandler, remarkably sweet upon himself, and constantly striving to 
throw a light upon numerous dark subjects that puzzled wiser heads 
than ever he possessed. On assuming the Mayoralty, he was con- 
sidered to belong to the only party that had ever been recognized in 
the borough — the Tory ; and through his hands, or his agency, the 
noble-minded electors received each a guinea in real gold, for return- 
ing the two disinterested Candidates to a Ministerial Parliament. The 
name of the little great man was Richard Sitt, but more commonly 
known amongst his fellow townsmen as Diek Sitt; whilst the wags 
from the Metropolis, who came down to solicit the suffrages of the 
constituency, alluding to his giving the " hip, hip, hip," after the 
toasts, and coupling with it his propensity to talk very largely of 
himself, nicknamed him "Ipse Dixit" — certainly a monstrous liberty 
to take with a functionary of his exalted station ; especially as the 
lower orders, who had frequently, on such occasions, seen his beloved 
Worship occupy more room in the street than ought to have sufficed 



64 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

for three ordinary men, made a slight addition to the appellation, by 
clapping a T before all, which teased him amazingly, as he heard 
himself called "Tipsy Dick Sitt;" proving that there were other 
T (ea) Dealers in opposition to his wishes. Still Ipse Dixit (as I 
shall call him) was much esteemed by his cotemporaries, and though 
always studying the main-chance, he seldom was harsh to the poor 
debtor who OAved him money ; in fact, this was part of his boast, 
when lauding his own good deeds ; sometimes, too, he was generous 
to the unfortunate, and this raised him in the estimation of the working 
classes, who were not aware that the sitting Members reimbursed the 
cash which he so humanely expended. 

Now it came to pass that, several months previous to the election, 
a professional gentleman, one Mr. Seemibref — half solicitor, half 
musician, and whole practitioner — took up his abode iu a dwelling 
that was considered to be about the best in the town ; where he came 
from, was but little known, and after the first nine days' wonder, was 
less cared for ; he contrived to ingratiate himself with the principal 
families — gave handsome dinner parties to the men, and feted the 
ladies with tea-drinkings, private concerts, select dancings, and four- 
handed whist. Ipse Dixit, however, came in for the greatest share of 
his attentions, while Mrs. Seemibref equally devoted herself to the 
Mayoress and her fine progeny, and the orders — ready-money orders 
too — for goods poured in thicker and faster, till it became a matter of 
astonishment to Ipse where and how all the articles supplied could be 
consumed. 

Matters had thus progressed when it was observed that Mr. Mayor 
and the lawyer were frequently in close consultation together, and 
by-and-by four or five other influential inhabitants were admitted to 
the conferences. A hundred conjectures were started relative to the 
nature and object of these meetings, all equally devoid of foundation, 
in fact, and each diametrically opposed to each other ; but so discreet 
did the coterie manage their affairs, that not a word indicative of the 
real cause transpired. 

The romantic and picturesque harbour, that ranged its waters close 
to the very streets of the town, was often visited by a royal cruiser in 
the shape of a large man-of-war cutter, named on the Navy List 
"The Sprightly," and standing 1273 in the Signal Book of Ships' 
numbers. She was well manned, and successful in her captures 
from the enemy, so that the officers and crew had generally plenty 
of money to dispose of, causing no contemptible speculation and 
rivalry among the landlords and tradesmen of the port. The Com- 
mander of the cutter, Lieutenant Backslap (that is not exactly the 
way his name was spelt in his commission), though upwards of fifty 
years of age, had all the mirth, liveliness, and mischief of an over- 
grown boy tired of school — he was rather deformed and bent in the 
body, which he declared was occasioned by getting warped, through 
intense heat, in the West Iudies — a wound in the hip joint had 
lamed him; so that he bobbed up and down, and went hump, jump, 
like a barrow with a broken wheel ; besides, he was hard-featured 



JOLLY EOAT. *J5 

in countenance, and one of his eyes had a regular ban tarn -cot k. 
Lieutenant Backslap, though diminutive in stature, was nevertheless 
every inch a seaman — uniting kindness of heart to a rigid sense of 
duty, as many of the unfortunate smugglers on the coast who fell 
into his hands could amply testify — and if the truth must be spoken, 
the free constituency, as well as the never-possessed-of-a-vote men 
of the borough town of , were extensively addicted to the ille- 
gal practice of endeavouring on all occasions to defraud the revenue ; 
so that numerous opportunities had occurred in which the Com- 
mander of the cutter, whilst fulfilling his obligations as an officer, 
also called to remembrance the weaknesses and frailties of human 
nature, and never forgot the humanity which should at all times 
characterize the man. As a rule of consequence, the contraband 
dealers wished him further at the very moment that he was invited 
to their tables; and it must be remarked, that Ipse Dixit, being 
largely engaged in this species ®f traffic, took especial good care to 
keep on the most friendly terms with Lieutenant Backslap, who 
mostly honoured him with a long visit whenever his Majesty's cutter, 
1273, was re-fitting in the harbour. Mr. Seemibref, very soon after 
domiciling himself in his handsome mansion, sent his especial greet- 
ings to the lieutenant, requesting the honour of his company, when- 
ever it suited his convenience to favour him with a call. Backslap 
was fond of good living and pleasant society ; he paid repeated 
visits, an intimacy grew up between the two, the lawyer's courtesy 
was returned by the lieutenant on board his cutter, and a mutual 
desire to gratify, strengthened the bond of friendship. 

A few weeks previous to the expected general election, Mr. Seemi- 
bref invited the gallant seaman to an entertainment that was more 
than ordinarily sumptuous — the viands were delicious, the wines 
superb, and Captain (as he was styled by courtesy) Backslap enjoyed 
himself apparently to his heart's content — he not only plied his host 
with repeated challenges to exchange salutations in the drinking 
way, which, in order to conciliate esteem, were as often accepted, till 
Mr. Seemibref could scarcely see any thing; but so well, also, did 
he animate the tongue of Ipse Dixit (who was of the party) with 
choice particular old port, that the " Worshipful" could not keep it 
still ; and in a paroxysm of extreme mental exaltation, he revealed 
the closely-treasured secrets of the conspirators, among whom he 
looked at himself in the glass as chief. In the early stage of this 
confidential communication, Backslap was thrown slap-aback with 
surprise ; but Mr. Mayor, being somewhat oblivious to things in 
general, did not perceive that the cock in the lieutenant's eye plainly 
showed that he had a crow to pull with him for the announcement. 

" My wor- worthy and ex-lent frie -friend," stammered the egregious 
Tipsy Dixit, shaking his well-figged head, and speaking thick, with 
an occasional hickup that electrified his frame, 4k You — yes — you — 
shall — kno — know all " — he laid his hand on the officers arm. " I 
Toe — hacko — respect you ; indeed I — hacko — tell you true ; aud I— > 
1 will — hickup — inform you of our — our plans." 
9 



66 THE OLD SAILOE'S 

The lieutenant's tongue answered not a word, but the cock in his 
eye expressed, as well as cock could possibly express, " Doodle do ; " 
and the Right Worshipful would have gone on with his expose, but 
for his colleague, Seemibref, coming to the rescue, and stopping the 
tete-a-tete disclosures ; enough, however, had been heard by the cut- 
ter's commander to put him on the qui vive, and induce him on the 
following day to seek a private interview with the lawyer. Seemibref, 
when sober, was not Seemibref when intoxicated — in the latter case, 
he resembled his violin well screwed up, so that any beau in company 
might play upon him — the former produced a state of relaxation 
that mingled the flats among the sharps, and he was down as a 
door nail. He saw, however, it was not only in vain, but also might 
prove hazardous were he to attempt to deceive Backslap, whose eye 
rolled round as nimbly as a cork-screw with a patent spring, as 
if resolutely determined to tap the demi-john containing the unrec- 
tified spirit of Seemibref s thoughts. The lawyer would gladly have 
escaped from the ordeal of the lieutenant's visual organ, which 
seemed to be turned by an unseen handle ; but it was utterly impos- 
sible, and he was therefore compelled, much against his inclination, 
to unfold a tale that was attached to the head of his supposed offence ; 
and as he hoped to obtain tie for tie, Backslap was soon made 
acquainted with every particular. 

Seemibref Mas, in fact, a solicitor of sharp practice, engaged by a 
certain party to get up an opposition in favour of Radical principles, 
so as to take the Tory candidates by surprise at the next general 
election, and, if practicable, to bring in a Radical Member, to neu- 
tralise the votes of his colleague in Parliament, as well also to 
strengthen the cause which was then gaining ground. He had been, 
plentifully supplied with money, and so well had his schemes been 
arranged, that not only had Ipse- Dixit, but also several others, become 
converts to his counsel, and pledged themselves to use their best 
exertions to promote the interests of the Honourable Mr. Bradby, son 
of Lord Viscount Tintacks [the owner and proprietor of one or two 
rich mines in the neighbourhood], the menent he announced himself 
as a Candidate; and without further postponement, " posted the pony," 
or in other words, " forked out the blunt," which means " dropping the 
tin,' or better explained as "tipping the reg"lars." 

Nothing was concealed from the lieutenant ; as the lawyer thought, 
by the exercise of candour, now the thing was known, to gain a 
friend on Lis side ; and if failing in that, at all events to secure an 
honourable and fair-dealing opponent. Backslap was an old and 
brave officer, who had served his King and country from childhood ; 
and though, in his present command, he had amassed ample means 
to have retired into comfort ashore, yet, at intervals, he keenly felt 
the injustice he had endured, by being deprived of promotion, whilst 
witnessing many a youngster raised to the rank of Post Captain, who 
were not born when he received his first appointment as Lieutenant, 
after nine or ten years of active employment. Seemibref was aware of 
this feeling, which had been undisguised by the veteran officer, and 



JOLLY BOAT. 67 

he now sought to turn it to his own advantage, by promising that, 
should the Whigs obtain power, no exertions should be spared to 
obtain for him the coveted distinction. 

The Sprightly's commander at first appeared to be insulted by the 
proposition that was made to him ; but after some special pleading 
from the limb of the law, doubts, apprehensions, and angry emotions 
crowded upon him ; he spoke warmly and sharply of the neglect he 
had suffered, and eventually promised to visit Seeinibref at the earliest 
convenient opportunity after he had got his vessel to sea, which he 
meant to do that very afternoon, and run over to the coast of France 
to deliberate on the course he should pursue : and so he took his 
leave. Further concealment was now considered not only impossible, 
but also impolitic ; the lawyer despatched an express to the Honour- 
able Mr. Bradby, in London, briefly stating what had transpired, 
and requesting his immediate presence to canvass the electors. Mr. 
Bradby lost not an instant in answering the summons ; his travelling 
chariot was ordered, and away he drove, as fast as four hack horses 
could whirl him along, eager to be the foremost in the field, and thus 
gain an advantageous start a-head of his opponents. In the meantime, 
whilst the Radical Candidate was posting him down, Seemibref was 
posting him up in large bills and placards in every part of the town, 
and the secret conclave now openly avowing themselves, Mr. Bradby's 
Committee, with little Ipse Dixit as their Chairman, were strenuously 
endeavouring to arrange a grand entre" for their man ; public-houses 
were opened, drinking commenced, and was carried briskly on ; 
preparations made for canvassing ; little Ipse was glorious till the 
evening came that was to introduce the new Candidate to their notice ; 
a numerous cavalcade, preceded by the Committee and five or six 
musicians, with clarionets and fiddles, were waiting at the turnpike 
gate to give the hearty welcome ; for the lawyer and his friends had 
industriously circulated a report, that Mr. Bradby would bring with 
him a thousand pounds, to be disposed of amongst his supporters. 

Twilight was growing into darker shade, when a handsome carriage, 
with four greys, drove up to the gate, and was received with loud 
cheers from the assembled throng ; not an instant was lost in removing 
the horses, ropes were promptly attached to the vehicle, and, without 
the delay of a minute, the multitude tailed on, and with sturdy lungs 
vociferating, " Hurrah! Bradby for ever!" they dragged the carriage 
to the piincipal inn. 

The Mayor had considered it most consistent with the dignity of 
his official capacity not to join the procession ; and Mr. Seemibref, 
the legal adviser, had also remained away, as he wished to make the 
demonstration appear to be perfectly voluntary on the part of the 
electors, although he was well aware that few possessing the franchise 
were present, and even they, with the rest, were induced by treating 
and payment to make a display. Little Ipse and the lawyer waited 
at the inn in anxious expectation, and highly delighted were they 
when the shouts came swelling upon the breeze ; and as they ap- 
proached, first of all. the Brad — and then the hj — were distinctly 



68 THE OLD SAILOR S 

heard. Both the gentlemen stood on the summit of the steps as the 
carriage was dragged rapidly along the street, but when it pleased 
the populace to stop at the principal entrance to the inn, they de- 
scended the steps, hurried to the door of the vehicle, which was 
promptly thrown open, and out came — not the eagerly-looked-fcr 
Honourable Mr. Bradby — but the then two sitting Tory Members, 
Colonel Hammer and Sir James Nailer, who were both well known 
to the musical lawyer, whose mortification, consternation, and dismay, 
may be more easily conjectured than described — he was dumb with 
sudden surprise and anger ; whilst poor little Ipse, feeling the 
awkwardness of his position, slunk off like a detected fox, with his 
tail between his legs. 

The populace, however, were some time before they were aware of 
the exact state of the case, for they still shouted " Bradby for ever!" 
which in a few minutes died away, as the truth was revealed to them, 
and kt Hurrah for Hammer and Nailer ! " immediately succeeded. The 
Members bowed and bowed in acknowledgment of the salutation, 
and Seemibref, having recovered the use of his tongue, stammered forth 
what he meant to be a polite reception, but which was disregarded 
by the fresh arrivals, who at once entered the house, and taking time 
by the firelock, delivered short addresses from the up-stairs bay- 
window, whilst the circumvented lawyer hastened to the Committee- 
room, where he was soon joined by two or three who adhered to him, 
and entered into consultation as to what was best to be done in the 
emergency. A strong suspicion arose that some one had betrayed 
them, but they were undecided who to fix upon as the traitor, and 
all were cautious in mentioning names. Whilst thus deliberating, 
another carriage, unattended and ungreeted, drove up to the inn, 
and Mr. Bradby alighted from it without hearing one exclamation 
of welcome. He joined his Committee, where the necessary informa- 
tion was imparted to him, and he resolved to commence his canvass on 
the ensuing morning — a resolution that had already been taken by the 
sitting Members. 

Lieutenant Backslap redeemed his promise ; he waited on the 
lawyer, and to the great surprise and delight of the latter, the officer 
joined hand and heart to advance the interest of the Honourable 
Mr. Bradby. An introduction took place ; such an ally as the veteran 
seaman was a most valuable acquisition, and everything bade fair to 
favour the Radical Candidate. Of course, Colonel Hammer and 
Sir James Nailer felt sore at what they conceived to be the lieutenant's 
indecorous conduct, and not only in their speeches did they express 
themselves warmly on the subject, but intimation was held out to the 
veteran that a report of his proceedings would be forwarded to the 
Admiralty. Nothing daunted, however, the bold tar persevered, and 
joined hand and glove with Ipse Dixit in behalf of Radicalism. 

But we must now come to the period at which we set out in the 
opening of the narrative — viz. the day before going to the poll, when 
almost every heart in the town was intoxicated with either excitement 
or liquor, and shouting and rioting prevailed ; the Coninrittee-iooins 



JOLLY BOAT. 69 

were attacked for the purpose of stealing the books, party spirits 
ran down, and party strife got up to its most elevated pitch, which 
was not diminished by a portion of the cutter's crew being allowed 
liberty on shore. There was, in fact, no safety for Committee-men ; 
and the lieutenant advised that, as his cutter was riding at anchor 
just at the entrance of the harbour, the Radical Committee should 
sit on board of her, and finish the preparation of the lists. The 
advice was followed. Ipse Dixit and his compeeis, glad to get clear 
of personal danger, readily embarked ; Backslap's cabin was nearly 
filled with them ; wine, and punch, and grog, were plentifully 
supplied; drinking and business became jumbled together; toast 
succeeded to toast, and all went on as meny as a marriage festival 
till evening, when one of the party going on deck, rushed below 
again, consternation fixed upon his visage as he declared that " the 
cutter was many miles away from the land, and they could no longer see 
the harbour." 

As a congregation rush out of church on an alarm of fire, so did 
Ipse Dixit and the Committee-men run to the companion-ladder, 
which they completely blocked up in their efforts to ascend, each 
one pulling down the other to gain the start. At length, after some 
desperate struggling, in which pugnacity often displayed itself, the 
half-drunken Mayor and his colleagues reached the deck to behold 
their worst fears realised; for the cutter was now getting under 
canvass, and standing out to sea, and the blackness of the heavens 
proclaimed the approach of a gale of wind. A sudden squall from 
the horrified electioneerers was responded to by the song of the 
seamen sweating up the jib ; but there was no annihilating time and 
space, and though Lieutenant Backslap expressed deep regret at the 
state of the weather compelling him to slip from his cable, and drift 
from the shore, yet it was any thing but satisfactory to the poor 
entrapped voters ; and though promises were made that, should the 
breeze permit, they would be landed early in the morning, still the 
chances (as the lieutenant well knew) were against them ; and with 
sea-sickness coming on, what might they not endure in the interval. 

In less than an hour, the gale burst forth with much fury, and 
continued to blow with all its might for three successive days, to the 
dreadful distress and discomfiture of Ipse Dixit and his companions. 
On the fourth day, the cutter's commander announced that they were 
off Dover, and in consequence of having discovered a large hole in 
the vessel's main-hatchway, he should be obliged, in order to save 
their lives, to run for the river Thames. Any spot on terra fir ma 
was desirable to the unfortunates, who, sick at heart, were stowed 
away in spare sails on the cabin deck ; but at daylight on the morning 
of the sixth day, they found the vessel perfectly quiescent, and 
hastening up the companion, beheld — the Tower of Loudon. 

Backslap waited on the First Lord of the Admiralty, and reported 
his arrival with the precious freight. Here he learned that the 
©Section had been decided in favour of Hammer and Nailer — Bradby 
having declined the contest as soon as he had lost his Committee, who 



70 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

returned home by land. Actions were brought against the lieutenant, 
who gained verdicts in his favour, it having been clearly proved 
that no seaman would have rode at anchor upon a lee shore in 
threatening weather. Who bore the expenses, it is not for me to say ; 
Backslap got his next step, and Ipse Dixit swore that he would never 
trust to man again. 



TUKBBIDGE WELLS ELECTION, AND CAPTAIN C. 

" Mine honour was not yielded, but conquered merely." 

Shakespeare. 

The story of the Electioneering Lieutenant has recalled to my recol- 
lection a humorous circumstance that occurred some twenty years ago 
— having somewhat of a similar origin. It happened at Tunbridge 
Wells, when I was on a visit to an old friend at that place, who had 
gone down to drink from the celebrated mineral springs, that at one 
time obtained great celebrity for their medicinal virtues. For my own 
part, I never could fancy the liquid in its cold state — it tasted too 
much like Thames water that had been stowed away six years in a 
rum cask, down in a ship's hold, and that, too, in a hot climate. It 
might be compared with streams from other sources, but that which I 
have named is, in my opinion, the nearest to the truth. Many a 
withered, orange-coloured phiz have I seen at the fountain, and many 
a blooming cheek, fresh as a May-day morning, the owners of which 
were young and beautiful, and whose Mammas were trying to blend 
the orange and the rose together, because the former possessed that 
which the latter could not boast of — a golden altar, on which youth 
and loveliness were to be offered up a sacrifice. What did the anxious 
parent care for the Nabob's attacks of bile, so that her daughter could 
rule the roast ? What was the lassitude and decrepitude of the 
husband, when placed in juxta- position with a handsome, double- 
bodied carriage, borne upon strong patent springs, and a gallant 
cousin to act as squire ? Tunbridge Wells was a famous place for 
squeezing the oranges. 

But to the water. I hare already said that I never could bear it 
in its primitive state — it was like swallowing cold iron ; and, perhaps, 
that may account for many of the drinkers of it, who, when they 
went down, had but small hopes of being long livers, having walked 
off at the end of the season as stiff as pokers. We have all a little 
iron in our compositions ; some more than others. There is bar iron, 
and cast iron, and wrought iron ; whilst thieves, from their peculiar 
hardness, incline more to steel. This water was (and I suppose is 
now) strongly impregnated — no, that is not the term — amalgamated 
— will that do ? Well, never mind, I know it was mated with iron ; 
and there John Bull might frequently be found, swallowing ox -hide, 
or ox-eyed (I am not sure that either is the right way of spelling it), 
from the spring. I certainly drank it myself, but never alone, nor 



JOLLY BOAT. 71 

cold ; for I took it warm, with the addition of good cognac brandy, 
lump sugar, and the juice of a tender lemon — the iron then comes 
into full play, and it makes capital strong punch ; and as I was 
advised to use the waters, I preferred them with the foregoing 
qualifications. 

And now to my tale. My old messmate, Captain E (he was 

only a commander, but, as a matter of course, Captain by courtesy, 
and I shall call him so), was a jovial soul, who drank more hollands 
and whiskey than water, and consequently enjoyed an admirable 
flow of spirits at all times ; he followed the doctor's advice in mineral- 
izing himself, but kept his own counsel touching the alcohol. His 
knowledge of the world, though he had been all over it, extended no 
farther, if so far, than that cf a child, and the impositions practised 
upon him were enormous. He was a politician, too — at least he loved 
to be considered so — but he was wholly innocent of information relative 
to Reform Bills, Corn Laws, Protection, Catholic Questions, with their 
long string of et ceteras, and could make out anything in the news- 
papers except the Parliamentary debates. Still he was a politician, 
maintaining the inviolability of Church and State, and the invincibility 
of the Navy and Army. As a natural result from such patriotic 
sentiments, he was not idle at elections ; and his personal exertions, 
his loose cash, and a tremendous pair of fists, were unsparingly devoted 
to the Ministerial candidate. 

Captain E occupied the elegant first floor over the shop of a 

hatter, in a rather extensive way of business. The house was well 
situated, and projecting from the front hung suspended, as a sign t 
a hat that could not have failed to be much in fashion in those days 
when " there were giants in the land ;" and there it swung to and fro 
in the breeze, creaking its iron crank in unison with the whistling of 
the wind. The Captain was unmarried, and his sole attendant (with 
the exception of a lad) was an old woman, w r ho in younger life had 

nursed E in his infancj 7 , and still affectionately styled him her 

"child," although he had passed his five-and-fortieth year; certes, she 
almost doated upon him, and he was much attached to her. 

Whilst at the Wells, an election for the county came on, and E , 

rigged out in new clothes (which he called his canvass suit), joined 
the Tories in soliciting votes ; he worked like a horse, swore like a 
boatswain, was the victor of several rings, and drank with the most 
fervent devotion — doing all for what he denominated " the good old 
cause." At the close of the first day of the election, the friends of 
each party dined at their separate head quarters, and it hardly need 
be said that healths, " five fathoms deep," were drank with the utmost 
enthusiasm ; the wine and grog abounded, and men swallowed 
sufficient to have liquidated the National Debt, had it not have been 
considered by that party as one of the greatest blessings the country 
ever enjoyed. The houses of entertainment were at no great distance 
from each other, and the unsteady emergers from number one could 
not fail to come in contact with the unsteady emergers from number 
three ; and so by way of a wind-up, as they reeled home, several 



72 TILE OLD SAILOR*S 

regular twisters were exchanged, till, after repeated skirmishes, the 
whole bodies took up arms, though they could scarcely keep upon their 
legs, and sallied forth into the streets to have a hostile meeting ; 
and as they wanted a commander-in-chief, both parties placed 

themselves under the influences of one General Row. E , as a 

bellygerunt, skillfull of grog, headed his friends, and led to the attack ; 
the Liberals, brim full of potency and the sovereignty of the people, 
repelled the assault ; weapons offensive and defensive were collected ; 
and at it they went, ding-dong, not from any feeling of wrong inflicted 
by either — not from any cherished personal animosity — not through 
envy, hatred, or malice — but solely because one party intended to 
vote for Potts, and the other party for Kettles. What a droll thing an 
election is ! 

The fighting continued for some time ; broken heads, bruised 
limbs, black eyes, and sanguinary noses, till the police officers, by 
belabouring on all sides, put a stop to the affray, and staves in hand 
vindicated and upheld the supremacy of the law, by knocking his 

Majesty's liege subjects down. E was amongst the last to retreat, 

but after being rolled up in mud, he bundled off home in no very 
enviable plight. The old woman let him in, and sorely did she 
grieve to see her " poor dear child " in such a condition, though she 
did not fail to rate him soundly for indulging his thirsty propensities 
to such excess. Accustomed from childhood to pay great deference 
to his nurse, the Captain received her remonstrances and rebukes 
without offering any very caustic replies, and in a short time he 
stripped ship and went to bed, the old woman locking his door to 
prevent his going out again ; but, like many other elderly ladies, she 
did not perform her work with that accuracy which the case required. 
There were folding doors between the sitting-room and the bed-room, 

and E 's brain being somewhat in a whirl, through lying down, 

fancied there was a noise in the street, and immediately concluded 
that the hostile parties were again in battle array. Nor, in point of 
fact, was he mistaken, as a straggling few had got up a bit of a fight 
amongst themselves, and the shouting and rattling of sticks could be 

distinctly heard. Captain E listened as well as he could, and 

the noise of the mob chimed in with the singing in his ears ; he got 
out of bed in his shirt and drawers, contrived to draw on his stockings, 
and by the time this was effected, the battle had rolled its tide 
more closely to his habitation. Impatient to head his friends, and 
lead them on to glorious victory, he hurried, exactly in the state he 
was, to the door, but finding it locked, he gave vent to angry denun- 
ciations. Cunning, however, assisted him, and trying the folding 
portals, they quickly yielded. It was a beautiful moonlight night, 
and every thing around was clearly visible ; he ran to the window to 
ascertain the direction of the sounds, just as several of the adverse 
party passed beneath to reinforce the Liberals. Without a moment's 
hesitation the sash was drawn up, out went the Captain, and sliding 
down from the leads above the shop-front, he dropped upon tliw 
pavement, joined the Tories, instilled fresh vigour into them, and 




>/? Cc>/fs&s f 7i> ^y/i?,f 



JOLLY BOAT. 73 

the contest grew warmer than ever, till once more put an end to by 

the watchmen and civil force. E , who never used any other 

weapon than his hard horny fists, had engaged in several pugilistic 
encounters, in which he had given and taken punishment unflinchingly, 
his shirt was torn, his drawers loose, his stockings down, and his falls 
had been in not the cleanest portions of the highway. 

It was in the strange plight just described that the gallant Captain 
once more sought his home, and knocked violently for admittance ; 
rattle after rattle succeeded at the door, but no response was made, 
till the old housekeeper, throwing up the first-floor sash, demanded 
" Who's there?" 

" Who do you think it is but myself? " answered E , in a voice 

hoarse with hallooing. " Bear a hand down, and open the door." 

" Indeed, and I shall do no such thing," exclaimed the housekeeper 
in a rage. " Go along about your business, and don't come here to 
disturb and alarm peaceable people at this time of the night," 

" Open the door, I say," vociferated E — i — , somewhat exasperated 
by her refusal. " Come down, and let me in, you old Jezabel, do ! " 

" Old Jezabel, forsooth," answered the housekeeper, in a passion ; 
" it is well my poor dear child, the Captain, does not hear you calling 
names, or you would find the streets too hot to hold you. Get away, 
fellow, or I will assuredly call him up." 

"Confound it!" shouted the shivering Officer, "here am I, 
thoroughly soaked" — there was no untruth in that — " and that old 
catamaran refuses to admit me. D'ye hear there, Bet ? open the door, 
I say. Zounds ! don't you know me ? I am the Captain." 

" You the Captain ! " answered the enraged woman. "You! — no, 
poor dear child, he's safe in his bed, and you are nothing but an 
imposthume as wants to rob the place. You" 11 get no doors opened 
by me, I promise you." 

It was in vain that E expostulated, stormed, and entreated ; 

the old woman was inexorable, declaring that her " poor dear child 

was fast asleep in his room," till E 's patience became exhausted ; 

and as a multitude of both parties were gathering round, he procured 
a piece of rope through the agency of a friendly hand, and flinging 
the end over the iron of the projecting sign, he doubled the parts, 
and ascended hand over hand, to the great amusement of the 
spectators, both sides suspending hostilities to shout and laugh. Up 
went the Captain, but when he got to the sign of the hat, his head 
popped into it and he could rise no higher. Useless were his efforts 
to soar above it ; sometimes he descended a little way, and then again 
mounted, but his labours were in vain, his head would get into the 
enormous hat ; and there he kicked, and swore, and raved, whilst the 
old woman screamed most lustily ; and the mob, decorated with the 
favours of the adverse parties, fought and hallooed and danced 
below. 

All at once it occurred to the housekeeper to see whether the 
Captain really was in bed or not. She therefore unlocked the door 
of his sleeping-room, rushed into the apartment, and loud were her 
10~ 



14 

wailings and lamentations when she discovered that her "poor uear 
child " was non est inventus, and that he must have departed without 
his clothes. The truth flashed upon her mind — half a dozen steps 

carried her down stairs — the street door was thrown open, and E . 

at last finding a friendly port from the storm, took off the great hat, 
and, lowing through the crowd, made good his entry to his lodgings, 
The old lady did all in her power to atone for the mistake ; she got 
him some hot brandy and water, wrapped his feet in her best flannel 
petticoat, and then left her " poor dear child " to his repose ■ 



THE RULING PASSION. 

" Strong even in Death." 

When I first rigged myself in the "jacket and trousers so blue," the 
Epitome of Navigation in general — nay, if I mistake not, in sole use 
at sea — was that which was well known and became celebrated under 
the title " Hamilton Moore." This was superseded by a superior 
work put forth by " Norie," of Leadenhall-street ; and perhaps no 
two individuals evsr had their names so universally upon the tongues 
of mariners, as those whom I have mentioned. Other Epitomes have 
since been published, both in England and America. One is by 
Mr. Riddle, a master in the Upper School, Greenwich — another is 
by Lieutenant Raper, of the Royal Navy ; and the productions of 
both these gentlemen are, I believe, from their own observations and 
calculations. Of John Hamilton Moore's history, little has been 
given to the world ; he possibly might be a descendant of the famous 
Francis Moore, physician — for both professed to deal in siderial 
matters, the former as an Astronomer, the latter as an Astrologer — 
but neither having much to do with the books that bore their super- 
scription. It is true that a portrait, purporting to be a likeness of 
John Hamilton Moore, appeared as a frontispiece to his Epitome ; 
but, in point of fact, it more strongly resembled a certain Irish school- 
master — the very beau ideal of the character — who kept an Academy 
near the sign of the Roman Eagle (a crack place in its day), in 

Church Street, Deptford. His name was B 1, and the actual 

calculator of most of the logarithmic tables, sines, tangents, secants, 
&c, with which Hamilton Moore abouuds. Well do I remember the 
venerable man — nearly six feet in altitude, dressed in a long green 
dressing-gown, illustrated with small flowers and numerous maps of 
grease — his white hair thickly clustering over his shoulders, a bottle 
of whiskey on one side of his desk, a small chest of snuff on the other, 
and (when not in his mouth) a doudeen stuck in his button-hole. He 
was a man of undoubted talent as a mathematician, full of the milk of 



JOLLY BOAT. 75 

human kindness, which he was accustomed to mingle with his favourite 
beverage pretty freely, and sometimes to excess. The national 
peculiarities of the Emerald Isle were perfectly natural in all his sayings 
and doings — he was the Irish gentleman of the old school. Age, 
however, brought on its attendant infirmities, and at the termination 
of his eighty-sixth year, although his intellects were nearly as acute as 
ever, he was compelled to retire from his profession, most of his pupils 
having abandoned him. Not one sixpence had he saved to comfort 
his last days, but grateful esteem induced certain parties to collect 
sufficient to procure him an annuity of about £15 per annum — 
scarcely enough to find the poor old boy in " potheen " and " bacca." 

It happened that three or four years afterwards, a person connected 
with one of the Epitomes — I think it was " Norie's " — was desirous of 

ascertaining the data upon which B 1 had founded his tables, as 

well as to make some very abstruse calculations, which had puzzled 
many of the astronomers ; but the veteran schoolmaster was no where 
to be discovered, and it was believed that he had taken his last sight 
in time, and had entered upon eternity. At length, however, after 
diligent search, his whereabouts was discovered, and he was found 
bed-ridden in a sorry hole of a garret, in Rotherhithe or Wapping — 
I cannot recollect which. The visitor stated the cause of his errand, 
and though the mind was wavering upon every other subject, yet it 
was fully able to develope this — he craved for half a pint of whiskey 
aud his pipe, and was raised up whilst he enjoyed them, seemingly 
to his heart's content. When his liquor and pipe were both out, his 
former mental energies seemed to revive — he entered clearly and 
distinctly into the required explanations — there was no hesitation — 
no faltering — it was the last flash from the lamp of life ; he laid 
himself back upon his pillow, and in a few minutes was a corpse. 
*" Ninety-one " was engraved upon the lid of his coffin. 

I recollect another instance in an old seaman, who, after serving 
all his yonnger days in a ship-of-war, was at the age of eighty 
master of a coasting vessel. But he could not endure for ever— .- 
ill health confined him to his bed, and a want of his usual activity, 
conjoined with a decay of nature, speedily reduced him to a state of 
imbecility. For several days before he died he was much convulsed, 
and writhed about in restless disquietude, until a piece of rope was 
put into his hands, and he immediately became pacified ; nor would 
he suffer it to be taken from him, but unceasingly went through the 
process of splicing, knotting, or coiling it away, until a few minutes 
before he breathed his last ; when, resigning his charge, he expired 
without a struggle. 



76 THE OLD SAILOR'S 



ANNE OF MUNSTEK, 



CHAPTER I. 



" Och ! by the powers, your honour, it's an illigant baste entirely, and 
bates Connaught for wind and limb," said the driver, as we took our 
seats on a vehicle which I had engaged to convey me from the thriving 
town of Ballina, in the county of Sligo, to the half-military town of 
Castlebar, in the neighbouring county of Mayo, and both situated on 
the western coast of Ireland, in the province of Connaught. The 
solitary stage coach conveying the public mails, which passes over this 
desolate region of bogs, lakes, and rocks, did not leave Ballina until 
the middle of the day, and as I had business to transact in Castlebar, I 
wished to be there before the arrival of the coach, that I might avail 
myself of it to pass on, that same evening, to the next town on my 
route. For this purpose, I had, the previous night, arranged to be called 
early, and to have the horse and car at the door by six o'clock. As it 
was in the month of December, there was, of course, no appearance of 
day, and the car having no such unheard-of extravagancies as temps, 
there was no chance of examining either the machine which was to 
carry, the horse which was to draw, or the man that was to drive, me 
through this portion of the Emerald Isle. 

On getting into the car (a kind of light cart, like those used by 
butchers in England), I expressed a hope that the horse was all right. 
*' Never fear, your honour," said Paddy, jumping up beside me, and 
shaking the reins and hallooing to the horse — " devil a one is like him 
— he'll bate Banagher all out, and so he will — och, by the holy poker, 
but he's a jewel of a baste — yurro ! " he cried, in a lively tone ; and 
urging the animal on, we left the town at a spanking rate, and soon 
lost sight of the neighbourhood where it lay. 

As he still kept up the smart pace at which we started, I expressed 
a fear lest we should not be able to hold it out. 

" Sorrow a fear you honour need have," said he, " sure the baste '11 
improve the furder we go ;" and, as if to show its improving qualities, 
he again whooped and " yurrooed " at the horse, shook the reins, and 
forced it on with accelerated speed, until I began to fear some accident 
might occur from the rapid rate at which we travelled. I was 
impressed with the full conviction that the horse was really a good one, 
as I saw no whip ; and although there was a kind of twitching with 
the driver's right arm now and then, yet, as I could not understand its 
meaning, I did not connect it, in any way, with the movements of the 
steed, and therefore gave him full credit for all the good qualities the 
driver ascribed to him. 

We had travelled in this manner for twenty minutes or half an hour, 



JOLLY BOAT. 77 

when the horse gradually slackened his pace, and as I did not offer 
any remarks, the prudent Jehu amused himself with whistling a jig, or 
now and then bursting out into odd snatches of old and humorous 
songs, without endeavouring to urge the horse beyond the dog-trot 
pace into which he had now fallen, and which seemed most habitual to 
him. 

In the course of another hour, the cold light of the wintry morning 
broke feebly through the murky clouds, which always obscured the sky 
whenever I happened to be in that part of the world, and I was able, in 
some measure, to reconnoitre, not only the poor beast which drew me 
along the road, but the lively and light-hearted animal who sat beside 
me. He was a middle-sized, middle-aged man, with a shock head of 
hair, that was, probably, quite innocent of either comb or brush — and, 
indeed, nothing less than a curricomb could have made the least 
impression ; a round, good-humoured face ; mouth rather wide, and 
a pair of black eyes that would have set off the finest Italian face. 
His hat was minus a considerable portion of the brim, and the crown 
seemed designed to act as a ventilator to his head, as it kept flapping 
up and down with the motion of the car, and was held on one side 
only, after the fashion of a hinge. His coat, waistcoat, and breeches 
were made of something resembling cloth, but of what the originals 
were composed, it would puzzle a wise man to guess, since Joseph's 
coat of many colours was not fit to be named in the same page with 
the habiliments that hung about the person of Pat. His ancles and 
half way up his legs were cased with hay-bands, ingeniously serving 
the place of boots, while his feet were protected with shoes that 
certainly were not made ior one individual, and most likely were not 
both formed in the same century. 

As the daylight grew stronger, I was able to make other observa- 
tions, one of which, at first sight, looked rather alarming. Beneath 
the feet of the driver were five or six good stout shilelaghs, each of 
them capable of doing very pretty service at a wake or fair. As the 
country we were passing was extremely rugged, and for miles destitute 
of human habitations, and having considerable property with me, the 
thought was not very unnatural, that mischief might be intended in 
some lonely spot, where cries for help could only be answered by the 
wild echoes of the rock, or the still wilder screams of the eagle. There 
was a degree of surprise, mingled, perhaps, with a trifle of fear, in the 
exclamation — 

" What, in the name of patience, are you going to do with those 
formidable sticks?" 

" Sticks !" exclaimed Paddy, with great surprise, following the 
direction of my finger, " is it the bits of switches you mane ? Oh ! by 
dad, your honour, and I'll tell you. You see, your honour, it was late 
last night when I resaved your honour's commands, and the childer, 
Heaven bless 'em, were all asleep, and one of them, your honour, had 
lost the whip, and herself wouldn't let the cratur be waked, and so I 
jist brought the thrifle of swishes, in case your honour should be ia 
a hurry." 



78 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

" And do you mean to beat the horse," I asked, " with such cudgels 
as those?" 

" Och ! divil a bit," answered Paddy, " I ounly jist acquaint him 
that they are here to the fore ; and when he knows how convaynient I 
have 'em, faith, he'll travel like a bird, without minding the hills at all." 

Not more than half satisfied with this explanation, which, if at all 
true, showed a superabundant precaution, I sat still beside the merry 
Irishman, contenting myself with watching to see whether the horse or 
myself was to have a more intimate acquaintance with the rib-crackers 
below. We had now gone seven or eight miles, and the road was 
passing between two large lakes, on a narrow ledge of rock which 
divided them, and presently afterwards widened, and stretched up 
loftily in huge beetling cliffs, where the eagle sat watching for his prey. 
As the road began somewhat to ascend, the horse slackened his pace ; 
and I was not sorry he did, as it gave me a better opportunity of 
observing the wild and desolate scenery around. From the midst of 
my contemplations on the grand displays of savage rock and inacces- 
sible cliffs, I was suddenly startled by the sound of a shrill whistle, and 
looking in the direction from whence it proceeded, I saw several men 
armed with guns, descending a rugged path that overhung the lake. 
One was marching in front, and two behind, and having in the centre 
two others, who were half supporting, half dragging, a young female, 
elegantly dressed. Her face appeared very pale, and her eyes wild ; 
but from the momentary view I had, it was not possible to draw just 
conclusions as to what emotions caused these appearances. I had 
barely time to notice these few particulars, when the party rounded the 
side of a precipice, and were lost to my view. "What the whistle had 
sounded for was soon explained, as I saw two other parties making 
their way down the rocks from different points, in the same direction, 
and, as I conjectured, all bearing to one place of rendezvous. 

" Who are those people ?" I asked, turning to the driver, and looking 
inquiringly in his face. 

" People, your honour ?" said he, with the greatest simplicity, " sure 
there are no people at all hearabouts." 

" The men and the woman," I replied, " who have just passed down 
yon rocks. " 

" By dad," said the fellow, looking very roguish, and laughing, 
" your honour is dhraming this morning ! Talk of people passing down 
yon rocks ! None but the divil could pass there, nor himself neither, 
widout using his wings and his claws." 

As he appeared quite serious in what he said, I was fain to let it 
pass, although the suspicion came very strongly across my mind, more 
than once, that he had seen them as well as myself, but did not choose 
to acknowledge it. I cast my eye down again to the cudgels which 
lay innocently enough beneath our feet, and at first thought of securing 
one, in case of an attack ; but recollecting how useless such things 
would be against the fire-arms carried by strangers, I abandoned 
my intention, thinking it wiser not to provoke violence by this 
impotent preparation for defence. 



JOLLY BOAT. 79 

As I came to this conclusion, the road wound sharply round a 
projecting rock, and we found ourselves in the midst of an armed party 
of nine men, surrounding a young female, who laid on the ground in a 
fainting condition. 



CHAPTER II. 



It would be impossible to conceive a stronger contrast than was 
exhibited between the appearance of the fair young girl, who lay 
extended on the rocky ground, and the swarthy fierce-looking beings 
around her. To a set of features cast in the finest mould of feminine 
beauty, was united a figure of extreme grace and the most exquisite 
proportion. Her complexion was naturally fair, and deprived, as it 
was, of whatever colour it might ordinarily possess, the skin looked like 
the finest marble, or rather, displayed the delicate transparency of the 
purest alabaster. The long glossy dark hair had escaped in masses 
from beneath her bonnet, and, disordered, by the violence she had 
sustained, hung confusedly over her neck and bosom. The dress she 
wore was of the finest material, and bore traces, by its sable character, 
that she but recently had been a mourner, and probably a chief one, 
at the last resting-place of some dear and cherished relation or friend. 
As she lay still and motionless on the cold rock, the thought shot 
rapidly through my mind, how much better it would be for her should 
she waken no more, than to encounter the destiny that seemed to await 
her, from the hands into which she had fallen. 

Of the nine men who surrounded the fainting girl, there were at 
least six of them that appeared somewhat under the influence of drink 
— mere low vagabond sensualists, whose prevailing habits were but too 
strongly stamped on their features. The other three were of a different 
order, one was a tall, ungainly personage, with an awful squint of both 
eyes; and a most sinister expression. He had a sort of smile, that was 
meant to be willing and condescending, but it reminded you of the 
arch-fiend, who could murder while he smiled. The dress of this man 
was better than the others, and he evidently carried some degree of 
superiority. The remaining two were dressed nearly alike, and though 
decidedly clerical, there were some professional traces which dis- 
tinguished them from all the others. 

One of these men was approaching fifty years of age ; he had a pale, 
smooth face, a small puckered mouth, and eyes of piercing brightness. 
He was extremely spare in his person, and appeared capable of under- 
going great privation and fatigue. The other was younger, not 
exceeding thirty years at most ; and though habited like the eldest 
personage, there was the most striking difference between them — 
somewhat above the middle size, and of a burly make, a spectator 
could at once point him out as a jolly boon companion, and the good- 
humoured smile on his broad face might have been attractive, were it 



80 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

not for the libidinous expression which lurked in his eye. This 
peculiar view might be more strongly excited, from a little circumstance 
which occurred while the girl lay on the ground. In the disorder, 
occasioned by the speed with which she had been dragged along, the 
upper portion of her dress was somewhat loosened, and exposed a part 
of her neck more than was wont. Not satisfied with remaining 
standing in the most favourable position, he contrived an excuse for 
sitting down just beyond her head, and fixed his eyes gloating on the 
view afforded by the helplessness of her condition. There was a 
species of triumphant villany in the wild light of his eye, and I could 
not but augur the worst consequences to the unhappy girl, if she were 
left to the tender mercy of this powerful voluptuary. 

I had sufficient time to make these observations which require 
longer to tell than the mind takes in framing them, from the circum- 
stances of the very slow pace we travelled up the steep road which led 
us into the midst of the party, and from the dead stand we had to 
make, owing to some of the men occupying the whole space of the road, 
over which it was necessary to pass. If I had been inclined to go on, 
with only the casual glance derived from the slow progress we were 
making, the intention would have been frustrated by the dogged 
stupidity of the men, who had placed themselves in our way ; but to 
speak truth, I was so struck by the excessive beauty of the prostrate 
girl, and so interested by her deplorable condition, that I was not at 
all sorry to find an excuse for a more leisurely survey of the singular 
scene before me. 

I know not how it was that my mind became so immediately impressed 
with the idea that the girl was in danger ; there appeared no evidence 
of hostility. I knew not the relationship between her and the parties 
around her ; for anything that appeared to the contrary, they might be 
her friends, removing her from pressing danger to a place of safety, 
and certainly from the number of men, and the apparent respectability 
of a portion of their number, as well as it being in broad daylight, 
there could be no reason to apprehend either violence or insult. And 
yet, on the other hand, when I reflected on the wild path I had traversed, 
and the terrified look she had when I first saw her ; the desolate 
country around ; the lawless, the sinister, and the suspicious characters 
about her, and, above all, the surpassing loveliness of this lonely and 
unprotected being, I could not help feeling that instinctive apprehension 
of evil which, like the dark cloud in the sky, casts its chilling shadow 
on the blighted field, or like the coming events of the gifted seer, 
throwing their withering shade before them. 

As the horse stopped, apparently of his own accord, when he came 
within a couple of yards of the men who were standing on the road, I 
noticed the driver lift his brinkless hat with a great degree of reverence 
to the two half-clerical strangers, and more especially to the elder, who 
returned his salutation with a mixture of dignity and condescension I 
could not understand. This appearance of acquaintanceship revived 
my former suspicions, and I became convinced that the fellow's 
simplicity was, in a great measure, assumed. 



JOLLY BOAT. 81 

" You see people do come down the rocks," I said, in a whisper ; *' do 
you know who they are ? " 

" Sorrow a bit myself knows," said he ; " ounly I jist guess that two 
of 'em are priests, heaven bless 'em." 

" Why do you think they are priests ? " I asked, in the same low tone 
as before, and to confirm me in the impression I had first formed. 

" Oh, be dad ? your honour and its aisy to tell " said he; " sure don't 
you see the black coat close to the body — the bit black stocks about 
the neck wid the white muslin above it, and more than all, the cut 
o'the jib which is like nothing else in ould Ireland ; and faith but you 
may tell them in a sack o'praties ; so you may." 

" And who is that beautiful girl?" I continued ; " and what do you 
think they'll do with her?" 

" Who is she?" he asked, looking very arch, " and what will they do 
with her? aisy to ax, but mighty hard to answer; may be she's a 
woman," he continued " and then the divil is there. He's niver away 
from the petticoats, any how ; and so he isn't, the thief." 

The last word he uttered rose higher than the rest of our conversa- 
tion, and being pronounced with considerable energy, reached the ears 
of the elder of the two priests, and caused him to turn suddenly round, 
with an expression in his small dark eyes that was quite terrifying to 
the poor fellow who sat beside me. 

" Who is a thief? " he exclaimed, bending his keen, sharp glance on 
the frightened driver ; " who is a thief, I say ? speak," he continued in 
a voice of calm authority, " speak, and tell me who it is you stigmatise 
with that disgraceful epithet? " 

The party addressed was apparently struck with great fear : he shook 
on his seat ; all the light joyousness of his previous conduct vanished 
in a moment ; he hung down his head — looked sheepish and terrified 
— and as the incensed individual came nearer, his fears grew more 
powerful, until, overcome by his feelings, he fairly sank on his knees, 
and with great trepidation in his speech, faltered out, " It was the 
divil, your reverence." 

" Ha ! ha ! ha ! " chuckled his reverence, smiling kindly on the 
trembling wretch, " a very proper character, as I'm a sinner ; he is a 
thief, and so are his friends, the heretics — all thieves : ha, ha, ha — I'm 
glad you are acquainted with his character ; ha, ha, ha — a thief, an 
errant thief — ha, ha, ha !" 

This appearance of excessive terror, and of sudden and extreme jocu- 
larity, was not calculated to allay the feeling of suspicion which had 
taken root in my mind. If the driver was not in the secret and acting 
with them, there could be no doubt that the priest was assuming a 
character for the occasion, and, endeavouring to create an impression 
on those about him, that might prove favourable to some ulterior object 
he had in view. What the object might be, was not for me to guess, 
ignorant as I was of his previous connexion with the girl, or why she 
had been hurried with such apparent violence to that lonely place. 
Whatever might have been his object, the means he adopted were 
evidently calculated to work well on the party around him, for they 
11 



82 THE OLD SAILOR'8 

entered with great glee into the humour he displayed, and seemed to 
think it an excellent joke on the part of the priest, that he coupled the 
heretics and the devil together. 

The loud, coarse laugh with which they responded to the priest's 
mirth, might probably have had some effect on the poor girl, for, 
drawing a long breath and heaving a deep sigh, while a contractive 
spasmodic struggle agitated her frame, she just opened her eyes for a 
moment, and then closed them again, with an expression of shudderiug 
and repulsive horror. The sensation and the expression were only for 
a moment, but they spoke volumes to my excited apprehension ; and 
assured me that there was some deep and fatal cause existing, to produce 
that mingled appearance of horror and loathing. 

The elder of the two priests had apparently paid little attention to 
me up to the present time, and I probably might have escaped his 
notice altogether, had it not been for the younger one whispering in his 
ear, and most likely suggesting something unfavourable. I had reason 
to infer some degree of dislike from having noticed his conduct to the lady. 
He had looked up, and seeing that I observed him, a momentary flush 
reddened his face, which soon darkened, however, into a lowering 
expression of mortification and dislike. When, therefore, the former 
turned and bent his keen eyes as if he would search me through, I 
observed that his brow was suddenly contracted, and in a harsh, 
authoritative tone, he bade me " Pass on, and be cautious." 

As I knew of no right he had to control my motions on the king's 
highway, and, moreover, somewhat indignant at this impertinent 
assumption of authority in a stranger, I answered his looks with others 
equally stern, and replied, " That my time was my own, and I would 
move at no man's bidding." 

" Will you 7iot" he said, in a low calm tone; " do you see the rock 
above you ? do you see the water below you ? Now mind, he 
continued, in a thrilling whisper, " if I say drown, the waves will 
cover you, and the hard rock will say nothing. Be wise, and pass on." 

There was something terrible in the very calmness with which he 
uttered these words, betokening as it were the cold indifference of a 
mind resolved to commit any act that could further his object ; and 
they evidently made a most formidable impression on the driver's 
mind, for he whispered in my ear, at the same time trembling 
excessively, " Oh, for the love of heaven, let us go — let us go, and not 
provoke the holy father when he bids you begone." He made a motion, 
as if to urge the animal forward, which had the effect of rousing me to 
the more decided opposition of seizing the reins. I said sternly, 
" Sit still, 'till I bid you go on, and let me see who dares annoy the 
king's liege on the public road." 

* Bah ! what a fool you are," said the priest, laughing ; " you forget 
we're in Connaught, and the strong hand is king here. Boys," he cried, 
turning to the ruffians who stood at a short distance, " come, and show 
this Saxon " 

What more he would have said was cut short by a scream from the 
girl, who had started to her feet, and rushing past the men on the 



JOLLY BOAT. 83 

road, she came close to the car, and flinging herself on her knees, she 
lifted up a pair of most expressive eyes, and cried in tones of piercing 
earnestness, " Save me ! save me ! for the love of heaven save me ! " 



CHAPTER III. 



The sudden restoration, impassioned action, and piercing cry of the 
distressed girl, produced an instantaneous effect on the various 
individuals around her, more than sufficient to draw their attention 
from me, and to fix it exclusively on her. The person who appeared 
to be most affected among them, was the tall, ungainly man with the 
sinister eyes. He was standing close to the back of the car, and, 
consequently, very near to the spot where the unfortunate girl was 
kneeling ; and no sooner had he recovered from a momentary surprise, 
than betidinghis black bushy brows, he stepped forwards, and taking hold 
of her arm, raised her forcibly from the ground, at the same time saying 
in a voice, where violent passion was contending with what might 
have been habitual respect, " It is your honoured mother's last 
command, and you must obey" 

There was terrible emphasis on these latter words, as if designed to 
impress her most fully with the helplessness of her condition ; but 
instead of yielding passively to the strong hand which held her, she 
struggled violently to escape, as she cried in a scornful tone — " It is 
false, as the deceitful villain that utters the slander." 

" Ask his reverence," he replied, still holding her fast ; " he was 
present, and heard her." 

" It is false, I say. My dearest mother loved me too well." 

" It is not false, Miss Anne," said the elder of the priests coming 
forward, " they were the last words she uttered before receiving the 
last sacrament ; and the will of the dead must be obeyed." 

The allusion to this bereavement, which was evidently very recent, 
seemed to awaken the most tender emotions ; for ceasing to struggle, 
she cast her streaming eyes to heaven, and sobbed in tones of the 
most passionate grief. " Oh ! my mother ! my mother ! would to God 
I had died with thee, and was now resting in thy quiet grave ! " 

The sight of this interesting young creature in such deep distress, 
produced the most powerful emotions in my mind, and although the 
slightest reflection might have convinced me, that any interference on 
my part must be attended with extreme danger to myself, without the 
slightest chance of benefiting the young lady, yet so intensely were 
my feelings excited against the suspicious -looking scoundrel that held 
her, that snatching up one of the cudgels at my feet, I sprang out of the 
car, and seizing him violently by the collar, ordered him to unhand 
the lady on the instant. 

" And who are you?" he asked, with a sarcastic sneer, "who dares 
to interfere with a gentleman in the discharge of his duty ?" 



84 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

'• Gentleman, indeed ! " I replied, my blood boiling, and scarce able 
to keep the cudgel from his head — " unhand the lady, or — " 

" Or what?" asked the priest, at the same time making a sign to 
the men, who instantly rushed in, and seizing my arms, took away 
the stick, and pinioned me in their hard grasp with the strength of 
iron. The outrage on my person, though not calculated to allay 
the irritation of my feelings, immediately convinced me of the folly I 
had committed, not so much as regarded the unpleasant consequences 
to myself, as the effect it might have on the fate of the unhappy 
creature ; and I had to regret this still more, when, after a few minutes' 
consultation between the two priests, a bandage was put over my 
eyes, my arms tied behind, and after being thrown on the ground 
with some degree of violence, my legs bound with ropes, so as to 
render motion impossible. My first impression was, the apprehension 
that, thus bound and Winded, they would throw me into the lake, 
where I might lie long enough without interfering with their schemes ; 
and although the thought ran chilly through my veins, yet recollecting 
how useless my appeal to their pity would be likely to prove, I 
assumed a more fearless tone than the state of my feelings warranted 
at the time ; and said, loud enough to be heard by all, " There will be 
a clay of reckoning hereafter." 

Whether this remark had the effect of changing their purpose, I 
could not tell ; but no further attempt at violence was offered, and I lay 
listening in vain for any sounds to intimate their intention towards me. 

Meantime, it appeared that the young female had ceased to strug- 
gle with her oppressor, and to judge from the heavy sobs that every 
now and then reached my ear, she seemed to be wholly absorbed by 
her own deep grief in the loss of her mother, until after a consider- 
able shuffling of feet, as if the party were in the act of unloading the 
car, I heard the tall man say, in an authoritative voice, '* Get up — we 
have wasted too much time already." 

Whether this was to urge her to mount the car, or to rise from the 
ground, I could not tell ; but she instantly replied, in a tone of firm- 
ness that surprised me, " I will not stir at your bidding." 

'* You must," he said, " and that quickly." 

" I will not," she replied vehemently ; " you have no warrant for 
this violence ; brute force may take me hence, as brute force has 
brought me here, and bound the stranger yonder ; but of my own ac- 
cord I will not stir, and you shall account hereafter for the outrage." 

" Will you dispute your mother's will ?" asked a calm voice which 
I could recognize as that of the elder priest's. 

" My mother's last will could never contradict her whole life, and 
she loved me too dearly to doom her only child to such treatment as 
this ; but I warn you," she cried, raising her voice, and speaking with 
great firmness, " I warn you of the consequence — I will appeal " 

Here a loud voice broke in upon her, as if giving way to uncontrol- 
led passion ; and this, mingled with the sound of feet shuffling to and 
fro, as if in the act of securing her by violence, intimated but too 
plainly that they were forcing the unhappy girl into the car. This 




awey /m>£ 



9, 






JOLLY BOAT. 85 

was immediately confirmed by the rolling of the wheels, and the reced- 
ing voices of the men, which becoming every instant fainter, intimated 
the rapidity of their movements ; until just as they were growing quite 
indistinct, a wild, terrified scream rung upon my ear, and was succeeded 
by a silence, as deep and as awful as the last stillness of the grave. 

The fearful sound which had closed this singular scene continued to 
ring in my ears ; and, situated as I was, with my eyes in darkness and 
stretched helplessly on the ground, it is not surprising that my imagi- 
nation should portray the worst misfortune as having befallen the 
young lady. 

" Death," I said to myself, " has got another victim ! and one of the 
loveliest that ever starred this vale of tears. They have murdered her, 
the villains ! they have murdered her, and she now lies cold and silent 
at the bottom of the lake ; and whose turn is next ? If they have had 
no mercy on her, will they show any to me ? I have witnessed their 
villany, and they will silence their accuser." 

Full of this gloomy apprehension, which, for the moment, grew more 
powerful than my sympathy for the unfortunate girl, I lay straining 
my ears to catch the stealthy footsteps of the approaching murderer, 
who, I did not doubt, was already within sight of his victim, and would 
in a few moments hurl me into the water, without a struggle or without 
a chance of escape. '• Bat shall I die thus without an effort for life, or 
without revenge ? There would be some gloomy comfort in dragging 
the destroyer to the bottom, and clutching his throat in the strong 
agony of death." I rolled, and pulled, and twisted, and felt as if I 
had double my usual strength ; but it was in vain — they had done 
their work too well — all was utterly useless, and I must die without 
seeing my murderer, or having one struggle for existence. The 
thought came over me with the coldness of ice, and I sunk exhausted 
and spent into a state of apathy. " Let them come," I said, " I can 
die but once, and the pain will soon be over." 

In this state I lay for some minutes, feeling quite resigned and indif- 
ferent to my fate, expecting every moment the grasp of the assassin ; 
until after waiting a longer time than seemed necessary, I began to be 
impatient, and wondered they should keep me in suspense, and at 
length grew quite angry and disappointed because they did not come. 
I had made up my mind to be killed, and now there was no one 
to hill me. 

This violent agitation of the feelings gradually subsided, and in the 
space of an hour, all the stronger excitement of the mind had died 
away into the mere physical sense of uncomfortableness to my frame, 
from lying cramped on the cold ground. The morning had opened 
with a heavy mist, which had now settled down into a drizzling rain, 
and I could feel the moisture penetrating to my skin in various parts, 
and spreading its cold, chilly influences further and further, like the 
silent and insidious steps of some deadly disease. My feet had 
become stiff and destitute of feeling; my hands were benumbed, and 
all my limbs cramped and full of pain. The gloomy thought crept 
over my spirit, that I was doomed to a lingering death, and without 



8G THE OLD SAILOIt'g 

any of the excitement I had formerly experienced, there appeared a 
sort of distant relief in thus ending the misery I felt. A species of 
drowsiness — a sort of supernatural sleep — was beginning to steal over 
me, when I heard a sound that shot through my frame with the quick 
thrill of an electric shock, and awoke me at once to an interest in life. 
It was the sound of some one whistling the merry air of " St. Patrick's 
day in the morning." There was more than music iu the tone — there 
was hope, there was life. All the morning my ears had taken in 
nothing but the gloomy sound of the rolling waters, the splash of the 
rain as it fell from the rocks, or the harsh scream of the distant eagle : 
but now to hear this quick sound of kindly life, this joyous up-bubbling 
of the merryhood of man, this vocal speech of a light heart, it was 
indeed the voice of the charmer — it was divine. And there was no 
fear, no drawback, no distrust ; for it grew louder, and it came nearer, 
and the life that was in it was unabated ; and if it stopped but for a 
moment, it burst out louder than ever, and there was love and good- 
will in it, and it was a goodly sound. 

It is surprising what an effect the imagination has on the body, the 
hopes awakened by this common sound, which, at any other time, would 
not have excited more than a passing thought, seemed to shed a 
reviving warmth through my whole frame, and a degree of pleasurable 
feeling actually ran through . the limbs that, a few moments before, 
were full of intolerable pain. My heart throbbed with a feeling of 
delight perfectly inexpressible, and it seemed as if a new tide of 
renovated existence was pulsing through my veins. 

As the sounds came nearer, I could distinguish the slow feet of a 
horse, with the rumbling wheels of a heavy cart, intermingled with 
the lighter footsteps of a man, as if dancing a jig by the side of his 
cart, to the merry tune he kept whistling with unabated vigour. All 
of a sudden the sounds ceased, and a cry of surprise broke forth, 
" Och ! by the powers ! and what have we here, boxes, bags, and an 
iUigant portmantle. Faith, it's myself is in luck this morning ; St. 
Patrick be praised and the Virgin. Eh — murther, murther, a dead 
man kilt as sure as a poker ; o hone, o hone, and what'll I do ; oh, by 
Jasus, and he's not kilt at all, at all ; and so he is'nt. Faith ; but it's 
a damp bed he has any how, and a hard one." Then coming close up, 
he cried out, " If you're a living man, be after telling me, that I may 
help you ; but may be you're speechless, darlint, and well you may be, 
this could morning." 

Here I recovered from the surprise and pleasure I had experienced, 
and succeeded in convincing him I was still living, by requesting he 
would unban chige my eyes, and untie my arms. 

" By dad," he replied, " it's a small thing your after axing, and if 
Shamus O'Rourke refuses the stranger, may be Kathleen wouldn't be 
scolding. Och ! honey, hould up your head, and let's look at the knot 
— faith it's a hard one ; if this had been fast round your neck for an 
hour, your nice might have shaken hands with your shoe without 
blushing. Och! the devil he knew how to tie a rope any how — one 
would swear his father was a hangman. If his mother's son was 



JOLLY BOAT. 87 

banged, the world would be none the worse — devil burn him. I have 
broke my nail, and not untied it." 

" Take a knife, and cut it," I said, becoming impatient. 

" Mighty convanient that same," he responded ; " but then the 
illigant kerchy will be spoiled. Try again ; now we have it— there— 
by dad, one pull more, and you may see daylight." 

It was true enough, the bandage was off, and I once more felt how 
" blessed a thing it was to behold the light." Tears of grateful joy came 
into my eyes as I earnestly thanked the poor fellow for his kindness. 

"Oh, weresthrue, and don't be botheriug us," he cried, the muscles 
of his face slightly relaxing ; " sure we have your arms and your feet 
still in limbo, and let's be after getting them out." 

This was a task of some difficulty, but was at length accomplished, 
and I stood again with unfettered limbs ; but owing to the cold in 
my feet, was unable to stand without his assistance. " Aisy, your 
honour, aisy," he said, as I grasped his shoulder to prevent myself 
from falling ; "jist be after leaning on me for a little, and try to 
make a turn or two on the road till the blood warms. By dad ! and 
it was a could bed your honour had chosen." 

" There was no choice in the matter," I said, smiling and striving 
to hobble along ; " but it would soon have been my last one, if 
Providence had not sent you hither to relieve me." 

" And that's thrue," he said, somewhat solemnly ; " Providence did 
send me — and very much against my own will ; I little drhamed it 
was to save a life, that I was forced ten miles out of my way ; the 
saints be praised, and the blessed Vargin ! " 

" And yet you seemed very merry," I replied, "for you were whistling 
and dancing on the road like a young kid." 

"Your honour's a witch," he said laughing, "to find out that, and 
your eyes blinded." 

" But you forgot my ears were not stopped," observed I. 

" No more they were," he replied ; " and that's queer — it's well a 
man has two ways into his head — but are you better? " he asked in i 
tone of feeling too earnest to be mistaken, and it was with real pleasure 
he heard that I now felt able to walk alone. 

After some time, being sufficiently recovered to proceed, I expressed 
a wish to be moving towards some place of refreshment, where I might 
change my clothes, and obtain something to eat, as I had tasted 
nothing the whole day, and it was now long past meridian. " Is there 
an inn near us ? " I asked, " for I am very hungry." 

"An inn," he replied, "not within twenty miles, certain." 

" Is there no house where we may obtain something like food and 
shelter, either for love or for money ? " 

" Och ! love and money," replied Shamus ; " love'll go a long way, 
but money a deal furder ; but neither love nor money will get victuals 
nearer than the Pontoon." 

" And what is the Pontoon ? " I asked. 

" The Pontoon ! faith, it's a house of illigant entertainment, and 
myself often stops at it when I come this way." 



88 THE OLD SAILOR S 

" And how far may be this house of elegant entertainment ? " I 
asked, smiling at the idea suggested by his recommendation. 

" Jist seven miles from the ould mare's tail at the top of the hill," 
said he, pointing to a remarkable rock at some distance, and which, 
to a fanciful mind, might bear some resemblance to the article in 
question. 

" Seven long Irish miles," I said, with a sigh, " and nothing to eat 
till then." 

"Jist that, your honour, and no mistake at all. So I'll put the 
luggage on the. car, and the baste 'ill carry us both, and we'll make 
the best of a bad bargain, and be off to the Pontoon at once." 

As there appeared no other prospect of relief, I made a merit of 
necessity, and helping Shamus to load the car with the valuable 
property I had in charge, we started together in quest of the 
Pontoon. 

When seated on the jolting vehicle, my thoughts reverted painfully 
to the recollection of that unfortunate young girl whose dark destiny 
had just swept across my own path, and nearly involved me in the 
ruin that had swallowed her up. I was greatly tempted to question 
the simple and kind-hearted fellow who sat beside me ; but calling to 
mind the danger I had already escaped, and reflecting how unlikely it 
would be that he should be able to give me any information about her, 
I suppressed my anxiety, and resolved to lay the case before the next 
magistrate I could find. With this determination in my mind, I 
strove to pay some attention to the merry songs and wild legends 
which Shamus poured forth, with a verbosity and profusion that 
astonished me. Ever and anon he would burst out in such snatches 
as — 

Cush la ma chree, 
Did you but see, 
How the rogue served me ? 
jje broke my pitcher, and spill'd my water, 
Kiss'd my wife, and married my daughter. 

Cush la ma chree, cush la ma chree. 

And then he would relate some dismal legend, how a fair young girl 
was spirited away by the fairies, and kept as a queen in a diamond 
palace beyond the big mountain. 

With these, and similar tales in verse or prose, the time passed 
along ; and though the horse moved but slowly, yet we arrived at last 
before the house of " illigant entertainment," dignified by the name of 
the "• Pontoon Hotel." 

The external appearance of this house of call bore a strange contrast 
to what might have been expected from the name it possessed. So 
far from having any of those accommodations usually found in an 
hotel, it could scarcely be called a house, unless the term was used 
with considerable latitude. Properly speaking, it was a kind of a 
hut or shed, which seemed leaning against the rock — the rock forming 
one side of the single apartment which embraced all the accommoda- 
tion that could be found in the Pontoon Hotel. As the night had 



JOLLY BOAT. 69 

closed before we reached the door, the strong light of a blazing turf 
fire shot clearly across the road, and seemed to offer a strong temp- 
tation to turn in from the drizzly darkness around ; and it was not 
long before Shamus and myself had found our way into the apartment. 
As I have already said, this was the only room, and the bare hard 
rock formed the principal square ; the others were naked clay walls, 
from which arose some rude rafters, leaning against the rock ; and 
these again were covered with turf, which barely sufficed to keep out 
the rain, and were wholly destitute of anything in shape of finish or 
comfort. In a rude break, which formed a sort of recess in the rocky 
wall, was a bed, already furnished with occupants — two children being 
in it, five or six fowls upon it, and a pig underneath. A few yards 
distant was placed the horse of Shamus, where he regaled himself with 
a bottle of hay, for which his long walk had given him an excellent 
appetite. Four or five rough-looking Connaught men were lounging 
about, now and then speaking Irish to the landlord's very pretty 
young wife, who sat nursing her baby on a block near the fire, while 
her husband busied himself officiously with looking after his new 
guest. As the house contained no table, and its only stool had but 
three legs, I seated myself on a log of wood by the turf fire, which 
blazed cheerily on the hearth, and, pulling the stool before me, supplied 
its deficiency of legs by the use of one of mine. Satisfied with this 
contrivance, which promised well at such a pinch, I called to the land- 
lord to bring me something to eat and to drink. 

" And what would your honour like to take?" he inquired, with 
the calm assurance of having an excellent larder. 

" Anything," I replied, " in the shape of meat, for I am very hungry." 

"Mait — mait, is it your honor's axing after. Sure, don't you know 
that the likes of us never taste mait." 

" Well, then, let me have some bacon." 

" Bacon — and what is that but mait ?" 

" Have you any bread and butter and eggs," I asked, growing more 
desperate. 

" Sorrow a bit," he replied, "the rogue of a baker forgot to call; 
and what's the good of butter without bread." 

" What have you then ?" I asked — " have you anything at all?" 

" Oh, be aisy, my Jewell — haven't we some illigant pratees in the 
pot, and here's an egg the ould hen laid on purpose for you." 

This was certainly not the fare I should have chosen, but the keen 
appetite I felt made* every thing seem savoury, and I accordingly hailed 
the potatoes and egg with a great degree of cordiality. In went the 
egg into the pot of boiling potatoes, and, in a few minutes, was fished 
out by the hard fist of mine host, and along with a skep full of snaking 
unpeeled murphies, was placed on the chair before me. I asked for a 
spoon — the landlord shook his head ; a fork— he held up h^s out- 
stretched fingers ; a knife, and he reached down from the rafter a 
piece of rusty hoop-iron, three inches long, stuck into^ a cleft stick, 
and tied with a piece of thread. " These are primitive instruments," 
I thought, as, seizing a potato with one h<md, I tried to scrape off the 
12 



90 THE OLD SAIiOK S 

coat with the rusty iron, and being desperate with hunger, was not 
very particular as to the amount of peeling taken off or left on. But 
such potatoes! On a good mealy, smiling, rough-coated fellow, I 
could have made an excellent supper, and been something more than 
thankful ; but these were bog potatoes, washy and soft as a rotten 
turnip, and the water flew out in all directions as I pressed them 
between my teeth. The salt, however, to make amends for their 
softness, was as hard as pebbles, and every grain as large as a pea. It 
was a ponderous effort of the jaw to crush a single grain, and it made 
the teeth chatter and jar when the feat was accomplished. The egg, 
indeed, was right excellent, and although I had to fish out its contents 
■with the rusty hoop, yet never before or since did I find an egg so 
excellent. Bad as the fare was, I worked away until the keen edge of 
my appetite was broken off, and then turning to the host, I asked him 
for something to drink. 

" Och ! by dad, your honour's right there," he replied with a grin ; 
" sure, I've the raal potheen that never smelled the gauger's rod, some 
Hate quaker fhwisky, that's not been baptised at all." Saving which, 
he fetched from a rude crypt in the rock, an old tea pot with a short 
broken spout. 

" Give me a glass," I said, " I cannot drink out of this." 
"Does your honour see that shelf?" he asked, with a grave face, 
pointing to a crazy piece of wood that bore the name. 
" I do," I replied ; " but I see no glasses there." 
" And that's thrue for your honour, for three days ago, that drunken 
baste, Tim Flanigan, broke half-a-dozen with one blow of his fist ; so 
he did, the devil scald him." 

'• Then you have no glass — find me a tea cup." 
" A tay-cup indeed, and where is the tay ? " 

" A basin, anything ;" and he brought me an egg-cup with the stand 
off at the bottom, from which I was fain to swallow the raw whiskey 
which he praised so highly. 

Accustomed as I had been to the luxurious tables of our English 
inns, 1 know not that I ever enjoyed a meal with keener satisfaction, 
than the one I have just described ; and the pleasurable feeling I 
experienced by the warm fire, as I stretched my feet across the rocky 
floor, seemed to open my heart with more kindly feelings, and I called 
to the men who were in the room to ask if they would take some 
whiskey. 

" They do not know English, your honour," said Shamus, who had, 
like myself, been discussing the potatoes. 

" Can they drink ?" I asked " if they do not speak." 
*' Och ! lave them alone for that," said the landlord, laughing, and 
holding up the tea-pot he addressed them in Irish, which set them 
laughjng till the rafters rung again, and the pretty hostess herself, 
smiled admiringly on the merry wag. 

It was easy to see that the trifle expended thus had made a favour- 
able impression on the parties present, by the kindly looks they cast 
towards me \ and not at all sorry to witness this feeling, I begged the 



JOLLY BOAT. 91 

landlord to let them have as much as would do them good ; and to 
say what I owed him, as Shamus and I must travel at once to reach 
the next town before midnight, A moment's consultation settled the 
question, and paying him just double the sum he demanded, I prepared 
to resume my journey, when a strange incident detained me at this 
house of " iliigant entertainment, the Pontoon Hotel." 



CHAPTER IV. 



Amongst the fellows grouped about the door, and who seemed as 
much amused by the landlord's jokes as by the potent drink he 
served out to them, was one who, apparently, cared for neither, as 
he did not laugh, like the others, nor drink as they did of the liquor 
that was offered. In the days of which we speak, Father Mathew 
was unknown, and the Temperance and Teetotal doctrines were not 
preached ; and for an Irishman to refuse whiskey was a strange thing, 
more especially as it was offered without money, or any other equiva- 
lent. But what made the man's conduct more remarkable, was the 
extreme vehemence with which he repelled all the efforts of the men 
about him to join in their carousal ; and to such an extreme was this 
carried, that the egg-cup was broken in the struggle between them, 
As the shattered fragments fell to the ground, he uttered a deep growl, 
and retreated swiftly from the door, leaving the company somewhat 
astonished at the violence of his conduct, and apparently ashamed of 
his ill-manners to a stranger. 

Up to the present time, I had been so engrossed with my own 
affairs, that I paid no attention to what was going on around me; 
and it was not until the dispute was grown rather loud, that I looked 
at the individual, and was immediately struck with his resemblance to 
one of the men I had seen in the morning as the foremost in the 
outrage on the lady. 

"Stop him — stop him!" I cried. "Stop the murderer; he has 
murdered a lady, and cast her body into the lake ! — " 

"Whisht — whisht," said the landlord; "Tim's a gallows bird, 
sure enough ; but not so bad as that, your honour — " 

" He is — he is," I repeated, greatly excited, and struggling to get 
out at the door, but in vain; for the strong grasp of the host 
effectually held me, while he put his mouth clo&e to my ear, and 
whispered, " He will be a murtherer if you follow him. Be aisy," he 
continued ; " and you, Shamus, untackle the horse, for out of this ye'll 
not stir the night." 

" Blue and agers ! " cried Shamus, " it's myself must be going. 
Kathleen will expect me by sunrise to-morrow, and its thirty miles to 
Munster. So jist be after unbolting the door, and let' 3 get a taste of 
the night." 

"Arrah now, Shamus," said the landlord, still holding the door 



92 THE OLD SAILOR S 



wi 



th one hand and me with the other, "why can't you be aisyf 
Would you have his honour murthered entirely ? Tim has ven- 
geance in his heart, and it's a big curse be upon him, for he manes 
mischief." 

The shrewd guess of mine host immediately struck me with its 
apparent likelihood ; and supposing the fellow to have been engaged 
in the outrage on the lady, he might have a double motive in way- 
laying me in this lonely country, as he would have the chance of 
securing a considerable booty, and, at the same time, ensure his own 
safety by removing me out of the way. Impressed with this con- 
viction, I inquired earnestly of the landlord as to " what he knew of 
the party, and what motive he supposed would induce him to commit 
this outrage on a stranger ? " 

" It's but little myself knows of him," he replied ; " but, faith, the 
little I know makes me prefer his room to his company. He has 
plenty of money — but where does it come from ? Tim never works, 
and he lives like a turkey. Better lave him alone, and not spake of 
the divil behind his back. Laist said is sunest mended : so take 
your ould sate by the fire, and we'll bar out Tim and the divil 
together." 

With these words he brought me back from the door; and saying 
something in Irish to his wife, he reached from a concealed cupboard 
in the rock, close to the roof of the cabin, two capital guns, one of 
which he loaded with great care, and handed the other to his wife, 
who deposited her baby on the bed, and imitated her husband in 
preparing the instrument for destruction. Whilst this work was 
going on, which it may be confessed was a little alarming. I could 
not help noticing the cool composure of both husband and wife, 
neither of whom manifested any anxiety about the matter. For one 
moment the thought came across my mind, that perhaps the contents 
of the pieces were designed for me ; but when I looked on the good- 
humoured face of the man, and the soft, feminine expression of his 
wife, it was repelled instantly ; and I felt fully assured, that whatever 
danger might be impending, it was not to come from the host of the 
Pontoon. 

Anxious to obtain some clue to the fate of the interesting girl I 
had seen that morning under such mysterious and painful circum- 
stances, and connecting the conduct of Tim towards myself in some 
degree with the same event, the proceedings of mine host became 
doubly important ; as they not only promised to secure my safety, 
but would, in all probability, enable me to learn something of the 
lady's unhappy end. Under these mingled feelings, I watched his 
actions with the greatest care, and could not help admiring the 
excellent arrangements he made for defending his cabin, with the very 
indifferent means he had for the purpose. Two stout pieces of wood 
were propped against the door, and rested at the bottom in two holes 
in the rocky floor. A large bundle of hay was suspended over the 
only window ; and as this consisted of a single pane of glass, it 
promised sufficient resistance to a bullet ; so that, unless the walls 



JOLLY BOAT. 93 

»ave way, or the roof was fired, there appeared a tolerable chance of 
safety. But besides these precautions, there was another means of 
avoiding danger disclosed by the removal of the bed, where a trap- 
door lay concealed, and which, on being lifted, showed some rugged 
steps cut in the solid rock, leading, apparently, to some subterranean 
apartment. Down these steps the landlord descended, and invited 
me to follow. It would have been useless to refuse ; so catching up 
a burning stick, I descended about eighteen or twenty steps, and 
came to a sort of low cavern, where we could just stand upright, but 
which spread out lengthways to a considerable extent. 

"Tim won't find you here," said the host, smiling, as he observed 
me looking anxiously round. 

" Why does he want to find me ?" I asked. " I have done the man 
no harm, and cannot conceive his motive for injuring me." 

" May be not," responded the host ; " but I saw Tim counting yer 
honour's boxes up there, and I guess what that manes." 

" If that be his motive," I replied, " let us put them outside, and 
not endanger the life of your wife or children for the sake of defending 
my property." 

" I'm thinking that wouldn't stop him the night," said the man 
doubtfully. " He believes myself has a little cash, and when his 
hand is in, nothing will stop him till he has got all. I heard a 
whisper between him and one of the boys when you came in, that 
makes me think there's more than one to be plundered the night ; 
and when Tim refused the whiskey, myself could soon tell where 
the mischief was coming. But I'll defate him — the villain !" he 
cried, doubling his fist ; " I'll defate him, and let him know that an 
honest man is better than a rogue any day. Come," he continued, 
" let us get the bits of boxes down here, and the children and yourself 
too, if the smell o' powder affects you." So saying, he stuck a bit 
of a candle in the wall, and hurrying up the steps, soon returned 
with one of my trunks in one hand, and a half-naked child in the 
other, His wife followed with the other; and both children were 
deposited in a corner, on some straw, where they nestled together as 
if nothing had happened to disturb them. Meantime Shamus had 
brought down the remainder of the luggage, and we were about to 
ascend the steps, when observing the pretty young hostess was also 
returning, to what I considered the scene of danger, I stopped, and 
remonstrated against her going. I suppose she must have guessed 
my meaning, as she did not understand English ; for, shaking her 
head, and smiling, she stepped to her husband with an expression 
of the most cordial confidence and affection, and taking hold of his 
arm, said something in Irish which brought the big tears into his 
eyes ; and, straining her to his breast, he kissed her with an impas- 
sioned earnestness, that showed how truly he returned her confiding 
love. This touching scene of deep attachment in beings so uncivilized, 
and contrasting so strangely with the rugged rocks around us, went 
direct to my heart, and I could not restrain the warm tears which came 
gushing from my eyes much faster than one's pride or philosophy 



94 THE OLD SAILOE. S 

might approve. The man apparently noticed my emotion, for putting 
his wife gently forward up the steps, he turned to me and said, 

" The darlin cratur is so winning, she makes a body forgit him- 
self." 

" Oh, don't call that forgetting yourself," I replied ; " the chief 
happiness of life is found in the overflowings of our best affections, 
and a man never looks better than when he stands like a tower of 
strength to sustain the lovely being that trusts in him." 

" By dad your honour speaks truth," he answered ; " for myself 
always feel as big agin when Nora smiles ; and it's aften she does 
that, and my blessin be on her ! " 

By this time we had reached the upper apartment, where it now 
appeared we were to sustain an attack, from how many we could not 
tell, but which was likely to be serious, from the determined character 
of Tim, of whom I learned more afterwards. The trap-door was 
therefore closed, the bed was drawn back again to its place, and 
everything made to appear as much like its ordinary shape as possible. 
When this was accomplished, he reached a small bottle of whiskey 
from his store, of which he insisted we should all partake, not except- 
ing Nora herself; and then, finishing the remainder of the liquor, he 
observed, with an arch smile, 

" The warm heart bates all the better with something to help it— 
and may the blessin of Heaven be on us ! " 

" It cannot fail to be upon you," I replied, " since you are now 
practising one of those virtues of which Heaven most approves." 

" Whisht," he cried, holding up his finger and stretching out his 
head ; " I thought I heard a foot beyont the door." 

" Better look out and see," said Shamus. 

" And get a bullet thro' my head to make spectacles," replied the 
host. "The ear is the better sentinel to-night." So saying, he crept 
softly on his hands and knees to the door, and laying himself flat on 
the ground, he placed his ear beside the small opening at the bottom, 
and waited for two or three minutes without speaking or moving. 

*' He's off for the present," he observed, rising and coming forward; 
" but we'll have him again shortly, so jist place yerselves where the 
balls won't hit you, and maybe the divil may git his supper to-night, 
after all." 

With these words he stationed Shamus and myself in the corner 
behind the door, and went with his young and interesting wife into 
the opposite corner, near to the small window which was hidden by 
the bundle of hay. In this place were the two guns, and on the floor 
beside them some powder and balls. 

" Let me at least assist you to load the guns," I said, " if I cannot 
be trusted to fire." 

" Bide aisy where you are," he replied, rather sternly. " Nora 
knows how to load them better than you, and I'd miss fire if her own 
hand didn't help me." 

There was no remonstrating against this tone ; and finding it quite 
useless to attempt defence or assistance, where the nature of the 



JOLLY BOAT. 95 

danger was unknown, I stationed myself beside Shamus in the corner, 
and awaited, as patiently as I could, the result of these formidable 
intimations of approaching danger. 

After remaining motionless and silent for some time, it appeared 
as if the host began to think he had been mistaken. He relaxed 
from the determined expression his face had latterly worn, looked 
rather uneasily at his wife, and more than once shifted his position, 
as if doubting and unsettled in his mind. Amid the anxiety natural 
to my own position, it afforded some slight relief to my mind in 
watching the motions of mine host. The light was dim and flickering, 
coming from the half-burnt lumps of turf that lay on the floor, 
and every now and then produced some striking contrasts in the 
appearance of the man and his wife, as a sudden blaze might light up 
the room for a moment, and then die away again into the muiky red 
which came from the body of the fire. At such times, I could observe 
the motionless figure of the woman ; calm, silent, and collected ; 
whose only change arose fiom the varying position of her husband — 
on whom her eyes were constantly fixed — w T hen she looked like a statue 
endued with consciousness, in which all was motionless except the 
eyes. The wild light which kept continually changing, threw about 
the appearance of the man something that was at times approaching 
the heroic. His figure was tall, and very muscular ; and seen under 
these singular circumstances, when the imagination was highly 
excited, I could not help at times fancying him some giant of romance, 
or one of those powerful genii which eastern fables assign for the 
protection of the weak. In this latter view I might well regard him, 
for in the scene which immediately followed, he acted the part of my 
guardian angel. 

For some few minutes he had stood fixed and resolute, in an attitude 
of attention and stern defiance mingled together; all the restless 
uneasiness had left him. With his ear turned to the small window, 
his hand grasping the gun, and his foot firmly planted on the ground, 
he appeared at once to foresee and to triumph over the approaching 
danger. His wife held the other gun : not, apparently, with a vie 



to fire it, but to hand it to him when the other was discharged. Her 
eye was fixed on his face continually ; and even in this exciting 
moment, I could not help admiring the perfect composure and 
full confidence she evinced in the courage and skill of her manly 
husband. 

This feeling was now about to be tested in the severest manner, 
for in the course of a few minutes we heard the confused tread of 
many feet, and immediately afterwards the blow of a heavy stick on 
the door, which made it jar and chatter, as if falling to pieces. This 
was succeeded by the loud tones of a rough voice demanding instant 
admittance, accompanied with threats of dreadful violence if the door 
was not immediately opened. No answer was returned, and for a 
couple of minutes our state of suspense was rendered more painful by 
the dead silence which prevailed, and which we knew to be only the 
precursor of the dreadful uproar that was likely to follow. The man 



96 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

of the house stood as calm as if nothing extraordinary was going 
on. He had stationed himself in the corner beside his wife, away from 
the range of the shot through the window, and with his finger on the 
trigger, appeared ready to avail himself of the first moment of 
advantage. After another slight interval, the heavy blows were 
repeated on the door with greater violence, and then the same voice 
demanded admittance with more horrid threats than before. 

" What is it ye're seeking ?" said the host, " that ye come with such 
violence to the door of an honest man?" 

" Open it, and you shall see," replied the man on the outside. 

"That would be a wise man's trick," answered the host; " ye're 
jist bad enough on the outside, and what would you be in ?" 

" Blood and thunder !" shouted another voice on the outside ; " let 
us in, or we'll burn you alive." And again the heavy blows fell on 
the door, which creaked and chattered as if giving way to their 
violence. 

" Stand off!" shouted the man of the Pontoon, at the top of his 
powerful voice. " Stand off — or I warn you — and yer bloods be on 
yer own heads !" 

"Open the door — open the door!" — responded the voice more 
violently. 

"Stand off, I say!" repeated the man ; and kneeling on one knee 
under the window, he fired his gun. A loud howl immediately 
succeeded, and a body fell heavily to the ground. It was evident 
one of our assailants had fallen, which, for a moment, had apparently 
stunned or surprised the others, for a dead silence succeeded, only 
interrupted by the groans of the wounded man. In a minute after- 
wards a complete volley was fired from the outside, and we could 
hear the bullets whistle in through door and window, and drop on 
the ground, after striking against the opposite wall, or rather, the 
rock which supplied its place. Screened as we all were by the walls 
of the house, the balls flew harmlessly past us ; and ere they could 
have time to re-load or do further mischief, the landlord had taken 
the other gun from the hand of his wife, and fired again with fatal 
effect, as we heard another body fall, accompanied with the most 
horrid yells and furious imprecations. To these succeeded another 
volley, and fired so desperately that the very muzzles seemed thrust 
into the house, and the smoke and flash were apparently inside. So 
far as regarded ourselves, this passed as harmlessly as the first volley ; 
but the horse of Shamus was desperately wounded, and fell, groaning, 
heavily on the floor ; and the poor pigs, either wounded or frightened, 
screamed and yelled in a frightful manner. 

" The poor baste is done for !" said Shamus, sorrowfully ; " and 

what will I do for another ? Och ! hone — but will be grieved 

at his loss, and the wedding agin be put off." 

" Never mind the poor horse," I whispered ; " let us only get safe 
over this night, and I'll buy you two for the one you have lost, and 
then the wedding can be all the sooner." 

" Heaven bless you !" sobbed the poor fellow, grasping and kissing 



JOLLY BOAT. 97 

my hand, on which I could feel the warm tears falling. * Heaven 
bless you ! and sure herself shall thank you." 

The poor fellow's emotion affected me not a little, and I deter- 
mined to forward his interests if possible ; but this was no time to 
indulge in sentiments which, however delightful in themselves, were 
absorbed in the more stirring calls of self-preservation, especially as 
the contest appeared to be growing more desperate than ever. The 
attack on the door re-commenced with redoubled fury ; the oaths and 
imprecations grew louder, and showed as if the villains were in a state 
of frenzy at the opposition they met with. Shot after shot was poured 
into the house ; and what with the cries of the affrighted swine, the 
groans of the horse, and the blows on the door, intermingled with 
the rapid discharge of the fire-arms, a scene was created that might 
have made the stoutest tremble. 

Meantime, the young wife of the host conducted herself with the 
steady resolution of a heroine. Standing quietly in the corner, she 
took the empty guns from her husband as he successively fired them, 
and no sooner had he discharged the one, than he had another ready to 
his hand, and this enabled him to take advantage of every opportunity 
which occurred for repelling the attack of his murderous assailants. I 
have no doubt it was in a great measure owing to her assistance that 
her husband was able to maintain himself against such superior force, 
for the quickness with which he returned every fire from without must 
have told with dreadful effect ; and this was beginning to be felt, as 
the shots came less frequent, and the attack on the door was in a 
measure suspended. How many were killed it was impossible to 
guess ; but certainly there must have been several, from the repeated 
yells which succeeded the discharge of his gun ; and I began to enter- 
tain the hope that he would defeat the gang entirely,, or compel them 
to retreat. 

This hope, however, was apparently without foundation ; for, after 
a pause of a few minutes, wherein it appeared they had been con- 
sulting together on some new mode of operation, the attack on the 
door began again as furious as ever. How it had stood so long under 
this very violent assault was a mystery which I did not discover 
till afterwards ; and even then, when I saw it was studded with iron 
knobs, and made of oak, having once been the door of a prison, 
it appeared astonishing it could resist the ponderous blows which 
fell upon it. Such, however, was the case ; and the strong timbers 
that rested in the rocky floor effectually prevented it from yielding 
inwards. Whether the villains were aware of this circumstance, and, 
despairing of forcing the door, determined to break through the 
roof; or perhaps, in their impatience to get in, adopted this as 
the readier method, it is impossible to say; but while one or two 
continued to batter the door, and others to fire in at the window, I 
became aware of some one clambering on the roof, just over the 
corner where Shamus and I were stationed. The host of the Pontoon 
was still beneath the window, from which every now and then he 
continued to fire, as occasion offered, while his wife steadily exercised 
13 



98 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

her office of loading and re-loading his destructive guns ; and I 
therefore determined to watch most narrowly for the man on the 
roof, lest the host or his wife should be injured by an attack from 
this unexpected quarter. The noise at the door prevented us hearing 
the less violent operations above us ; and it was only by extreme 
anxiety, which seemed to sharpen the facility of hearing, that I was 
aware that mischief was doing there, though I could not tell precisely 
what it was. In a few minutes I heard something fall on the floOr ; 
and, looking over the spot where it fell, I perceived a small hole in 
the roof, into which was thrust a blazing torch ; it remained for half 
a minute, and was withdrawn, the turf had not ignited, being soaked 
with the moisture of the preceding day ; and the party outside, 
apparently disappointed in their intention to fire the roof, introduced 
the barrel of a gun, with its muzzle directed to the spot where the 
landlord kneeled. As I felt that the safety of the entire party 
depended wholly on him, I was just springing forward to warn him 
of the danger, when a quicker hand than mine interposed more effec- 
tually to save him. The eye of his wife had watched the torch, and 
when she saw the point of the gun projected through the opening, 
quick as thought she fired the piece she had just loaded through the 
roof, and, as it seemed, with the greatest precision ; for immediately 
after the shot, we heard a wild terrific yell overhead, succeeded by a 
dead, heavy fall on the ground ; and a voice cried — 

" Tim's done — the game's up — off." 

Whether this was an intimation of relief, we could hardly judge ; 
it might be only a feint to throw us off our guard ; and though we 
were pretty certain that the wife's shot had been fatal, yet knowing 
the desperate characters we had to do with, both the landlord and 
myself judged it best to be prepared for what might further ensue. 
This caution appeared the more needful, as we could hear the sound 
of stealthy steps for some time about the house, and it was more than 
a quarter of an hour before these noises had wholly ceased, which they 
dai at last, with a cry of fear, and the fast tread of several men in 
rapid flight. 

After listening attentively for some time, and finding all was per- 
fectly still, the landlord ventured to look out through the broken 
window. This he did with the utmost caution, as if he feared some 
treachery was still lurking about the house. In a few minutes he 
looked again, and then thrust his head through the little opening. 

" The coast is clear, any how," said he, stepping back into the 
room ; and the dead as well as the living are gone." 

" Gone !" I asked with astonishment ; " are the dead bodies gone ?" 

"Your honour may see," he replied; leading me to the little hole 
in the wall where the single pane of glass had served the purpose of a 
window, some jagged remnants of which still remained, and made the 
look-out rather dangerous. 

"They are, indeed," I said; looking out, where the clear moon- 
light enabled me to trace the pools of blood on the ground, but from 
which were removed all traces of every thing that bore any resem- 



JOi.LT BOAT. 99 

blance to a human being. " They are gone, but what is that on the 
water ?" 

" Where ?" asked the host, coming close beside me. 

" There," I said, pointing in the direction ; " it looks like a woman 
in a boat." 

*' Mercy defend us ! " responded the landlord, in great fear ; " it is 
the white lady of the Cliff. Grace be about us ! but it is awful to see 
her." 

" Who is she ?" I asked ; " and what is she doing on the lake at this 
hour ?" 

" Whisht," said the man, " and don't provoke her. She hears what 
we say. May the Saints preserve us ! and it's herself does not like t? 
be spoke of." 

The man's fear, and the anxiety of his wife, naturally provoked my 
curiosity; and as I could learn nothing from them concerning this 
mysterious vision, I expressed a wish to go out and observe her more 
nearly and more earnestly, as I could see that the boat was passing 
rapidly from the shore. 

" It's more than your life's worth," said the man, opposing my 
wishes. " Nobody lives long that provokes her ; and she hates to be 
watched." 

" But who or what is she ?" I persevered in asking ; " and for what 
purpose does she appear so strangely ?" 

" Yer honour might respect the roof that's protected you," said 
he, rather reproachfully, " and not be axing questions that's dis- 
agreeable." 

" Excuse me," I cried ; " it would be ungrateful in the last degree 
to offend the man who has so lately risked his life to defend mine, and 
whose kindness I can never repay." 

" Och — be aisy," he replied, " a good deed is always the best pay 
in itself, and may be 111 throuble yer honour for something by-and- 
bye." 

" Nothing that you can ask will be received with greater pleasure, 
than I shall feel in giving whatever my means will afford," urged I. 

" When the mistress is next in the straw we'll try you," said he ; 
and then turning to his wife, he said, in Irish, something, I suppose, 
that had reference to his last words to me, for she gave him a playful 
slap, which seemed to me as if she had said, 

" Arrah thin, Pat, what a rogue you are." 

In a minute or two afterwards I again directed my eye through 
the window, and perceived that the " White Lady '•' had diminished to 
a mere speck, which presently disappeared altogether, and nothing 
was seen on the surface of the lake to disturb the clear moonlight 
which slumbered on its bosom. 



100 THE OLD SAILOR'S 



CHAPTER V. 



It was not until after the sun had risen, and was throwing his sickly 
beams across the water, that the host of the Pontoon permitted his 
door to be opened. For several hours the silence of the night had 
been quite undisturbed, and no trace remained of the desperadoes, 
yet the cautious host refused to incur the slightest hazard, not 
knowing but an ambuscade might be ready to surprise him. When 
the broad day-light, however, gave assurance of safety, he flung open 
the door, and taking his gun in his hand, he proceeded to examine the 
scene of the night's encounter. The door was found sadly hacked 
and shaken ; the walls were broken in several pieces, and the roof 
was pulled up and torn, where a half-burnt torch yet lay upon it. 
Our fears had by no means magnified the violence of the attack, for 
in every part, the most convincing proofs remained of their excessive 
desperation, and it appeared half miraculous that he had escaped the 
dangers of this deadly assult. 

But the most remarkable circumstances connected with this strange 
transaction, was the total absence of the bodies, that must have been 
either slain outright or very desperately wounded. Here and there 
were several pools of blood, but with this exception, there was no 
trace of the mischief that had been done. The nature of the situation 
might partly account for this, as the solid rock which formed the 
road led directly from the door of the Pontoon to the very border of 
the lake, and, of course, precluded the possibility of tracing the foot- 
steps of the assailants. A natural suggestion arose in our minds, 
that the wounded had been cast into the lake, and their bodies 
hidden from view ; but on examining the edge of the rock, we could 
discover nothing that would lead to such a conclusion. On the con- 
trary, so far as we could judge, the bodies appeared to be all care- 
fully carried away, as there were spots of blood leading off in several 
directions, more or less faint as the condition of the wounded might 
vary. We followed these ominous landmarks for many yards, but they 
all ended in obscurity, growing fainter and fainter until they were 
altogether lost. One only presented a different appearance, and this, 
after becoming faint like the others, led to a spot where a large mass of 
gore was clotted in the sun ; beyond which, however, not a single drop 
had fallen, and there was nothing to indicate the path they had taken. 

" By dad, your honour/' exclaimed the host, as we stood looking on 
the unsightly mass, " but this fellow was alive, any how." 

" What makes you think so ?"' I asked. 

" Faith, then," he replied readily, " the deaduns don't bleed in this 
way. All the rest have got their gruel, divil burn them ; but this cock 
may crow again, if the gallows don't tache him manners." 

This distinction of my sharp-witted host struck me as extremely 
probable, and in all likelihood the villains had rested here to bandage 
the wounds of their companions, and thus prevent the possibility of 



JOLLY BOAT. 101 

discovering their route to some place of concealment. The dead bodies 
could be secreted more easily than a living man, and to guard against 
detection must now be an object of paramount importance ; and we 
therefore concluded that all the others had been killed, and one only 
of those who were shot had been carried away with life yet lingering 
in his veins. 

" If we could find the wounded man," I said, as we came to this con- 
clusion, " perhaps he might tell us the meaning of this strange story." 
" We can find him," replied the landlord, " but in a place where it 
would not be safe to meet him." 

" Why so ?" I asked ; " he cannot be very dangerous just now." 
"Himself is a little tamed, maybe," replied the host; "but the 
divil has many imps." 

" Then you think there is a numerous gang of these robbers," I 
asked ; anxious to obtain more information than the host seemed 
willing to give. 

" Myself cannot tell," he replied ; " but the dead and the wounded 
could not carry themselves, and yer honour sees they are gone." 

" That is very true," I answered ; " but can we not get assistance 
sufficient to root out this nest of villains ?" 

" If you catch them asleep," said mine host; " but that won't be to- 
day, any how." 

By this time we had returned half way back to the Pontoon, and 
I was busily ruminating over the events of the last night, when my 
eyes were attracted to an object on the water, which I at once recog- 
nised as the female in the boat, who had caused such terror in the 
mind of my host. Fearful of exciting any unpleasant feelings, and 
at the same time extremely anxious to learn something concerning 
this strange appearance, I avoided saying any thing that could excite 
suspicion, and kept my eye steadily fixed on the distant object. The 
boat appeared of the slightest and most delicate texture, and scarcely 
large enough to bear the burden with which it was freighted ; though 
this, to judge from appearance, was light enough, as the figure was 
exceedingly small, and as delicate as the morning mist. She wore a 
white veil of transparent gauze over her head, and whether any 
illusion was produced by this I could not tell, but her whole 
figure seemed to be transparent, and I could observe no shadow 
on the water either from her or the boat. The thing that struck 
me with most surprise was, how to account for the movements she 
made, as there was neither sail nor oar, and yet the little vessel 
glided over the water as if impelled solely by the will of its mysterious 
inmate. 

" This is strange — passing strange"— I said involuntary, after gazing 
some time ; " what, in the name of wonder, can it be ?" 

" Oh, musha thin ! the saints be merciful," cried the host, dropping 
on his knees with great symptoms of terror, and repeating his prayers 
with extreme devotion. 

" Who or what is she ?" I asked earnestly ; « that can so frighten a 
brave man like you ?" 



02 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

" Och hone, och hone, and what '11 1 do ? what '11 1 do ?" he replied, 
dolefully ; and no entreaties of mine would induce him to look in the 
direction of the water. 

Finding there was no obtaining any information from this quarter, 
I turned again to watch this wonderful vision ; but there was nothing 
to be seen — the lake had not a speck on its broad bosom — there 
was no trace of living thing in sight. " Can it be possible ?" I cried. 
" She was there but this minute, and there is nothing to shelter her ; 
where is she gone ?" 

" Ax no questions," said the landlord, solemnly, " if it's after living 
you'd be. Come," he continued, laying hold of my arm, " Nora will 
be wondering where we are ; and the praties are ready." 

With these words he hurried me on at a great rate, his mind 
evidently labouring under some heavy impression ; the more heavy, 
perhaps, because he felt a necessity for being silent on the very sub- 
ject about which it was most natural to talk. For my own part, the 
singular appearance, and the more singular disappearance of this 
strange being, fully occupied my thoughts, and made me the more 
disposed to follow his injunctions of silence ; and we therefore walked 
on together, each busied with his own thoughts, until we came to the 
battered door of the Pontoon Hotel. 

On entering this rude, yet friendly dwelling, we found the good 
wife busied in active preparations for the morning meal. These were 
of a most simple character, as the only article she had to cook was 
the universal and everlasting potato ; accompanied, however, on this 
occasion, by some small fish, which had evidently been recently eaught, 
and probably out of the lake, which lay within thirty or forty yards of 
the door. 

" Your honour's in luck this morning," said the landlord, snuffing 
up the scent of the broiling fish, which was hissing and sputtering 
on the red-hot turf; " but where is Shamus ?" he asked, looking round 
and not observing that individual, who was lying down beyond his 
dead horse and bemoaning his unlucky loss. " Is it there you are ?" 
he cried as he discovered him. " Up man, and don't be making a 
baste o' yourself. Sure the horse is dead, and all the water in the say 
won't revive him, let alone the small drhop of brine ye can pump up 
with moaning," 

" Och, thin," said Shamus, lifting himself up and resting his chin on 
the dead animal, " it's my own self that knows the loss of him. Have 
I not known him by night and by day for years ? and did we ever 
spake cross to one another ? Sure it's himself 'ud tell ye, if he cud 
open his mouth, how kindly I've traited him ; and didn't the cratur 
desarve it ? for he did what I axed him, and niver murmered. Och, 
hone ! och, hone ! what '11 I do ? what '11 I do ? I'm ruined and 
murthered intirely — and Kathleen herself was so fond of him." 

" You forget," I said, coming closer to him, " that I promised you 
two in his place." 

" Divil a bit," he cried, jumping up hastily ; it's myself remimbers 
it very well, and it's mighty obliged I am to your honour's goodness i 



JOLLY BOAT. 103 

but sure you wouldn't forbid a tear for an ould friend, and just as ve 
part wid him for ever?" 

" By no means," I replied ; " it does honour to yourself as well as 
the beast ; for if you could part with an old servant without regret, 
1 should think you did not deserve another." 

" Och, lave Shamus alone for that," interposed the host ; " it's 
many a day I've known him, and a kinder lad niver came to the 
Pontoon." 

" Whihst, Feargus," replied Shamus ; " would you be after bother- 
ing me intirely ?" 

" Did I not understand you in the night," I asked, " that the loss 
of your horse was likely to defer your wedding?" 

" It's thrue, yer honour, I said so," replied Shamus ; " and it's thrue 
it will be so." 

" Then you have a sweetheart, Shamus ?" I said. 

" It's myself is proud of the same," he answered. 

*' And yet she won't have you without your horse ?" I continued. 

"God forgive yer honour for slandering her," he answered; '' it's 
herself would take me wid nothing." 

" Then how is the loss of your horse," I asked, " likely to put off 
your marriage ?" 

u Oh, then, it's not herself would put it off at all ; but an ould uncle 
of hers, that has brought her up from a child, w T on't let me have her 
till I've two pigs, a cow, and a horse of my own. And sure it's myself 
has got the pigs, and the horse was earning the money to get the cow, 
and we'd fixed on the spot for a bit cabin ; and the Missthress, heaven 
bless her, had promised the land, and Miss Ann herself said she'd 
furnish the cabin ; and sure yer honor won't take offince when I ax 
you to remimber yer promise." 

*' So far from that, Shamus," I replied, " I shall be very glad to buy 
you a cow in addition, and thus make a man of you at once." 

" Heaven bless yer honour's worship's goodness," said the poor 
fellow, greatly affected ; " it's myself wants words to thank you." 

"Never mind the thanks, Shamus," I replied; "you know I owe 
my life to you, so I shall still be in your debt." 

" Bear a hand with the baste, Shamus," cried the landlord, " and let 
us take away the dead to make room for the living." So saying, he 
seized the head of the horse, and Shamus and myself each taking a leg, 
we dragged the unfortunate animal outside the house, and left him 
stretched on the borders of the lake. 

On returning again to the house, I was struck with the odd ap- 
pearance of a rude board at the corner, which was designed to intimate 
the calling of its owner. I had missed it before, from the greater 
excitement of my feelings on just having seen the mysterious female in 
the boat ; but now, having caught my eye, it was impossible to pass 
without examining it. The board itself had no pretensions to regularity 
of form, nor had any care been exercised to place it straight. The 
letters were an odd mixture of large and small, and some of them 
had, as it were, turned themselves quite round; so that, with 



104 



THE OLD SAILOR S 



the curious mode of spelling adopted by the artist, it Decame rather 
difficult at first to make out the meaning. It ran somehow as 
follows : — 



iLi^aNt hint^rtalS'gm^N't wid 
Spirits For maN & hoES 

Lol^iN 
For mg;N piGs & traYg;lg;rs 

by Fg;ar*)Tr8 cONNgr 



Scarcely attempting to suppress the smile which was naturally 
excited by the odd mixture of ideas in the latter passage, and wonder- 
ing what was meant by the third description of those invited to 
lodge in the Pontoon, I entered the house, and despite the anxieties 
of the night and the surprise of the morning, proceeded to make a 
hearty meal of what the hostess had provided. The cbair with three 
legs was again in requisition, and the rusty iron did good service with 
the fish and potatoes. 

M Won't the good wife join us ?" I asked, observing that she was 
taking nothing. 

"Botheration!" cried Feargus, jumping up, "it's the childer she's 
thinking of; and myself, like a baste, was feeding without them." 

So saying, he ran to the bed, and pulled up the trap-door, shot down 
the steps, and returned in half a minute with the two children in his 
arms, chuckling with delight, and stretching their arms eagerly 
towards their mother. With the most beautiful expression of maternai 
affection, the wife flew to her children, and a scene of kissing and 
fondness ensued that would be wholly lost in description. 

"The like o'that, now," said the landlord, while a big tear was 
gathered in his eye. " Ownly to think o' the craturs — it's better 
than a dram any day." He added something in Irish, which the wife 
returned with smiles and additional caresses on the children. 

To see a large powerful man caressing an infant, especially if his 
occupation be of a laborious kind, has always possessed a charm for 
me particularly striking ; and many a time I have stood in the streets 
of London watching some huge brewers' drayman, of a Sunday 
morning, nursing his young child, until the tear has come into my eye, 
and I have blessed the Being who has thrown these strong and 
precious ties into our nature to bind our humanity together. It may, 
therefore, be readily imagined with what interest I watched my 
preserver, as he took first one and then the other of his half-naked little 
ones, and with tones of mingled affection and playfulness, helped them 
to pieces of the food he was eating. 

" The babes had a safe berth," I remarked ; anxious to know more 
about the man and his house than I yet did, and hoping to lead him 
into some conversation that might throw light on the attack of the 



JOLLY BOAT. 105 

" It's convenient," he replied, " to have a bit of a shelter when the 
storm comes on." 

" But you do not often have such storms as we had last night ? " I 
asked, inquiringly. 

" A bit of a breeze now and thin," he answered ; " but last night 
was a rigular nor- wester." 

" Was it wholy for the sake of plunder," I continued, " that the 
house was attacked so desperately?" 

" I'm after thinking so," he answered, " and yet myself doesn't 
know. Maybe the strange tale your honour tould about the lady had 
something to do wid it, and maybe the boys are angry because I 
won't join them ; and they know*d o'th guns, and 'ud iike to have 
hould on 'em." 

'* What boys ?" I asked ; " not the rascals who wanted to plunder 
your house ? Surely no one expects you to join a gang of thieves," 

" Och, be aisy, yer honour," he cried, laughing ; " the boys are not 
thieves at all, at all." 

" Not thieves !" I exclaimed, " and yet they would have killed us alt 
to get the property we had — " 

" Oh, but these are the scum," he responded, " and not the raal 
boys at all. It's themselves 'ud scorn to touch another man's gould, 
although the guineas were lying exposed on the highway. But the 
dirty blackguards, like Tim, ownly join 'em for a pretence, while it's 
their own interest that leads 'em intirely." 

" Really I cannot understand you," I replied ; " you speak of 
persons who would scorn to do a dishonest act. and yet associated with 
the desperate villains who attacked your house with such fury, that it 
is wonderful any of us are alive. V ru 'it am I to think of it ? " 

" I see your honour's flabbergasted intirely," he answered ; " and 
it's well you may be, for myself hardly knows what to make of it. 
But if ye'll jist promise not to be spaking of it after ye lave the 
Pontoon, yer own eyes shall inform you. Shamus," he continued, 
addressing that individual, who was solacing himself outside the door 
with a short black pipe, which made the tobacco additionally rank, 
" jist be after taking care of the misthress and childer, while I show 
his honour the nate little still that makes the poteen." 

" Niver fear," replied Shamus, still standing at the door, and 
continuing to smoke his pipe with great satisfaction. 

With this assurance, the landlord and I descended the steps which 
led into the rocky apartment below, the door being closed over us and 
the bed again forced into its place, as I could perceive by the grating 
sounds above us. When we had groped our way from the bottom 
of the steps, I stood in the middle of this rude apartment while 
Feargus unbarred a door which I had not observed in my visit to this 
place on the preceding night. 

" Let me have hould of yer hand," said he, coming back again to 

the place where I stood. " Yer honour doesn't know the way so well 

as myself." So saying, I felt him grasping my arm pretty tightly, 

and we began to move, as I thought, in a somewhat circular direction, 

U 



106 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

as if to round a corner of the rock, or to avoid some projecting pillar. 
" Step firm," said Feargus, " the floor 'ull not give way for the next 
thousand years at any rate ;" at the same time he stamped on the 
ground, which I could perceive was formed of the solid rock, and as it 
was tolerably even, I felt a greater confidence to plant my feet and 
walk on with my host. 

After moving this way for some yards, we suddenly stopped, and 
I could hear Feargus return and bar and bolt the door through 
which we had passed. For a moment all was still as death — and 
the deep silence which followed the harsh sounds of the heavy bolts, 
seemed to fall chilly on the nerves like the last extinction of hope — 
all of a sudden, I heard the snap of a pistol trigger, and in a moment 
afterwards perceived a spark of lighted tinder, and the faint outline 
of O'Connor's face, as he proceeded to blow the ignited stuff for the 
purpose of lighting a match. 

" It's a pleasant thing to see the light, any how," said he, as the 
torch burst out into a ruddy flame, and threw a strong glare on the 
rocky passage where we stood ; " we'll travel now wid some comfort, 
though myself doesn't need it at all." 

" Do you often come this way ?" I asked, as we continued to thread 
this subterranean labyrinth, which I could perceive was now taking an 
upward direction. 

"Jist as often as bisness calls me," replied Feargus, striding on 
before. 

" Business ?" I asked ; " what business can you have by such a road 
as this ?" 

" Bide here for a moment," he replied, " and yer honour shall see.'* 
Saying which, he disappeared with the torch, and left me wondering 
what mysterious circumstance could bring him to such a place as 
this. Totally unacquainted with.the habits and localities of this wild 
country, I had no suspicion of his business, and was beginning to feel 
rather uncomfortable at his prolonged absence, when suddenly a strong 
ruddy light was displayed through a narrow arched passage in the 
rock, and my host came forward laughing, and saying, 

" Yer honour shall taste the cratur as it springs into life ; and if 
yer don't confess it's the natest liquor yez iver drhunk, may I niver 
make f whiskey agin." 

As I came forward into the small apartment, I perceived that the 
ruddy light proceeded from charred tuif, where a still was at work 
in the production of the whiskey my host praised so highly. A 
slight fissure in the rock seemed to give free access to the fresh air, 
and egress to the vapour which rose from the fire ; and as a couple of 
blocks of wood might serve for seats, I was not loth to sit down with 
my host, and taste the whiskey as it dropped warm from the still. 
The taste for this strong spirit is, I believe, artificial ; and as I had 
not yet acquired it in perfection, a very little satisfied me of its 
strength, and enabled me to praise it sufficiently to please Feargus. 
He took a small quantity himself, and then filled a moderate-sized 
bottle, whick he put in his pocket, saying, 



JOLLY BOAT. 107 

" We'll need another drhop before we finish our walk, and maybe, 
yer honour will like it better by-and-bye." 

Although I was aware that the laws had prohibited the existence of 
these secret stills, and visited with severe penalties those who used 
them, yet it was no part of my present business to find fault with my 
conductor, even if I had been satisfied that those laws were wise and 
just ; and therefore following Feargus as he led the way, I only 
expressed a hope that the exciseman might never find him out. 

" Divil a bit," cried he. " I could aisily baffle 'em all ; if they sat 
on the stool with yer honour, I could keep it from their grip." 

" But if they found the passage, what could prevent the discovery ?" 
I asked. 

" Jist because the still 'ud be at the bottom of the lake before they 
could lay hands on it," he replied ; " but hould still for a moment, 
yer honour, while I take this bit of a rock out of the way." 

As he said this, he put the torch in a hole in the rock, and applied 
his shoulder to an enormous block that seemed far too ponderous to 
be moved by the strength of a man ; for a moment or two he seemed 
to make no impression, aud the huge mass remained motionless. 
In a short time, however, I perceived a slight vibration, and this was 
nursed so effectually by the exertions and skill of Feargus, until it 
soon began to swing to and fro, and by-and-by was brought to its 
utmost motion, when he suddenly stepped back and forced a large 
loose fragment near to its fulcrum underneath, and thus fixed it 
hanging on one side. When this was done, an opening was left over 
the top through which we could pass, and clambering up the rugged 
sides of the passage, we squeezed through and came into a fissure of 
the rock, along which we had to scramble on our hands and knees. 
After proceeding in this way for eight or ten yards, he came to a 
spacious and lofty cavern, into which the daylight came freely from 
a large and rugged opening at the summit. 

" We can breathe here more freely," said Feargus, cheerfully ; 
"and maybe yer honour 'ud like a drhop of the stuff, in regard that 
the cave is moist." 

" And so have whisky and water," said I, making a poor attempt 
at a joke, as I felt the cold drops falling on me from the roof of the 
cave. 

" Put the fwhiskey in, and keep the water out, and sorra a could 
ye'll have," replied Feargus laughing, and at the same time taking a 
pull at the bottle, an example I was at the same time not loth to follow, 
as the chilly atmosphere of the cavern seemed to wrap rather uncom- 
fortably about me. 

"But when shall I see the boys you spoke of?" I asked. *' Have 
we much further to go ?" 

"Jist a nate little walk, and then we'll examine the larder up 
there," he replied, pointing to an opening at one end of the cave,, 
which appeared to me to rise nearly perpendicular, at the same time 
rising and turning round, as he said, 

" Step aisy, yer honour, for the road is not quite so convanienC* 



108 THE OLD SAILORS 

The caution enjoined in this latter direction I found very necessary, 
for the path lay over broken and loose fragments of rock, which were 
wet and slippery, and in several places small pools of water had 
gathered in the holes, while in others a considerable stream ran beside, 
and sometimes over, the path. Here and there we had to leap from 
one piece of rock to another, and in several places I should have found 
it impossible to get along, had it not been for the effective assistance 
of my companion. It is true the difficulties of the way were, in a 
great degree, compensated by the grandeur and beauty of the scenery ; 
but as my object was of a totally different nature, and my curiosity 
and anxiety stretched to the highest pitch, I was not disposed to avail 
myself of what would, at any other time, have afforded me considerable 
pleasure. 

" Shall we ever get to the end of this dreary cave ?" I asked, rather 
impatiently. 

" If we hould on the way," coolly replied Feargus, as he continued 
to stride along ; " and yer honour may see it to the fore," he con- 
tinued, pointing towards a dim, murky-like sort of light, which 
appeared struggling to enter the further end of the cave. 

In a few minutes we had proceeded so near to the outlet that the 
torch was extinguished, as being no* longer necessary, and the path 
being free from obstructions, we proceeded the remainder of the journey 
without danger or difficulty. 

My first impulse was to rush at once to the mouth of the cave ; 
partly to escape what I had long felt painful, and partly to gratify my 
curiosity, by seeing what was beyond it. 

" Whist ! w r ould you like a bullet through yer head ?" said Feargus, 
holding me back ? " better see than be seen. Jist keep close behind, 
or the boys 'ull persave ye." 

With these ominous words he stepped cautiously to the cave's 
mouth, and stooping behind a large piece of broken rock, he beckoned 
/ne to follow. Imitating his cautious conduct, I also stopped, and 
keeping sufficiently within the cavern, I sat down on another fragment 
of rock, and looked with astonishment on the scene before me. 

The place where we were appeared an opening in the side of a 
imge rock, a considerable distance from the bottom, which formed 
the border of an immense valley, far below us. The valley itself 
appeared like a vast amphitheatre, surrounded by rocks as steep and 
inaccessible as the one wherein we stood, having no outlet that I 
jjould perceive, except it was through a sort of narrow rent at some 
distance, where a rapid .stream of water seemed darting down its 
surface below. On one of the highest rocks were the ruins of an old 
castle, completely desolate, and near to it was a building partly 
dilapidated, which had, as I thought, something of a monastic 
character. 

But the rugged grandeur of this singular scene did not strike me 
with half the surprise , as the sight I beheld in the midst of the valley, 
where a number of mt*n, amounting to fifteen hundred or two thousand, 
were spread about, and evidently practising some military evolutions. 



' 




^^ 



JOLLY BOAT. 109 

One or two companies were being drilled to walk; others weie learn- 
ing to charge, or to handle their weapons ; and the whole group 
appeared earnestly engaged in learning the art of war. Tents, of an 
irregular form, were pitched here and there, much in the way I had 
seen them at fairs, and a few flags were visible, having the harp 
painted darkly on a white ground. 

After looking at this singular scene for some time, and in vain 
endeavouring to guess what it meant, I turned to Feargus, who was 
watching them very earnestly, and asked, " Who are they ?" 

"These," he answered seriously, "are the raal boys.' 



CHAPTER VI. 

The expression of Feargus concerning the singular assembly in the 
valley threw no light on their character, or on the object for which 
they were gathered together. That it was no collection of the regular 
military forces of the country, was very evident, as well from the 
want of uniformity in their dress as the peculiar nature of their flags. 
It might be, I thought, a sort of Local Militia, such as I had seen in 
England ; and making allowance for the difference in the two 
countries, the irregularity of dress could be accounted for, as a thing 
of less importance here than in the sister island. Yet this supposition 
immediately died away as unlikely, when I looked on the peculiarity 
of the situation, and the evident secrecy of their movements, coupled 
with the caution observed by my conductor. 

" Who are they ? " I asked, after these vain conjectures ; " and what 
are they doing ? " 

" Whisht ! " said Feargus, in a whisper ; " the boys are coming 
this way " 

While he spoke, I noticed a general move of the whole body ; their 
faces were all turned in the direction where we lay, and by a 
simultaneous resolve, they approached the foot of the rock beneath the 
mouth of the cave. Those who were in rank at the time came on 
with measured and regular tread, but many of the others ran singly or 
in groups, and all were apparently anxious to get as quick as possible 
to one particular spot ; and from what I could judge, that spot waf 
immediately under us. 

" Whisht ! and don't stir for the life of ye," whispered Feargus^ 
" and we'll be after having a trate widout paying for it." 

" What are they going to do ? " I inquired, in the same low tone, 
and becoming more and more anxious to understand the meaning of 
these strange proceedings. 

" Listen," he replied ; and holding up the finger of his right hand, 
he stretched his head towards the mouth of the cave, and stood in an 
attitude of the deepest attention. 



110 THE OLD SAIL0B.'S 

As a matter of course, I was led to follow his example, and creeping 
somewhat nearer the extremity of the rock, I bent forward in earnest 
expectation of what was to follow. My suspense was not of long 
duration, for scarce a minute had elapsed when we heard a somewhat 
pleasing and sonorous voice engaged in addressing the assembly 
below. From our elevated position we had little difficulty in catching 
the words ; and from these I gathered immediately the nature of the 
object they had in view. 

" My beloved eountrymen," said the speaker, " I address you on 
the present occasion with emotions of the most opposite character. 
My breast heaves alternately with the most lively joy and with the 
most piercing sorrow ; and, like the waters of this wonderful lake, 
which ebbs and flows with the restless sea, and yet has no connexion 
with the vast expanse of waters, so do I feel that, although deprived 
of our most natural rights, yet my pulses throb with the wild beating 
of the heart of our common humanity. When I look at the beautiful 
country where Providence has placed us — our valleys teeming with 
verdure, and our fields with plenty — our harbours open to every sea, 
and our rivers the finest in the world. When I look on the men 
before me, and compare their sinewy forms and manly beauty with 
the puny sons of the Saxon — when I reflect on their generous devotion 
— their long-tried fidelity — their lofty spirit — their unflinching attach- 
ment to the faith of their fathers — and when I reflect on the lovely 
and chaste daughters of this glorious land — I feel all the exultation 
of unmingled pride that I belong to such a land, and spring from such 
a race of men. But when I look at the long series of heavy wrongs ye 
have endured ; at the bitter oppression of a tyrannical foe, who 
delights his soul with the misery he inflicts upon yon — when I see the 
produce of your teeming soil carried away to fatten the men that 
oppress you, and your cry for justice answered by insults and outrage,, 
my very soul dies within me, and my heart sickens with disgust. 

" The gloom of these melancholy thoughts grows deeper, as I look 
at the long period that has elapsed since our necks were first bowed to. 
a foreign yoke, and our native princes gave homage to the stranger. 
The ancient glory of our once free land was eclipsed, and the heroic 
deeds of a thousand years buried in oblivion. Our beautiful country,, 
which had been the nurse of art and the centre of learning, to which 
even Imperial Rome had sent her sons for instruction, became the 
prey of rude barbarians, and was divided as a spoil amongst the 
men of the iron kand> and the yoke was heavy, for our fathers 
became slaves, and were judged happy if allowed to till their own lands 
for the benefit of their masters. They were allowed to live because 
their labours were serviceable ; but the life of a mere Irishman 
was nothing in the eye of his tyrant, since the heaviest fine imposed 
for its loss was but a few shillings, and an English sportsman could 
hunt and shoot the ' Wild Irish' at less expense than he could 
kill foxes in his own country. These were the deeds of a dark age — 
but has succeeding times discovered any improvement ? Run back 
in your minds over the bloody periods in our history, and can yoit 



JOLLY BOAT. Ill 

trace a single bright line amid all the dark masses which envelop 
our unhappy country ? Alas ! no. England might be divided 
against herself — but she has always kept her iron gripe on the vic- 
tim's throat. The White Rose and the Red might occasion bloody 
battles in every town ; one line might flourish till supplanted by 
another ; a fickle voluptuary might change the faith of a nation, to 
justify infidelity to his wife ; even their King himself might expire 
on the block, and their haughty Nobles submit to the rule of a 
brewer ; their ancient Princes be driven into exile, and the sons of 
the stranger promoted to sovereign sway — but never, amid these 
mighty and astounding changes, has England for one moment relaxed 
her grasp, or softened her iron rule. He of the strong-bow commen- 
ced in violence, and the strong hand alone has been employed to 
govern us. 

" But, my beloved countrymen, there is an old saying, that ' when 
things get to the worst, they are sure to mend.' I am not very fond 
of some of these old sayings, especially those that come over the 
water. I like those best that are of home-growth ; and if I give you 
one of our real old Milesian proverbs, I am sure you will not like 
the lesson the less because it instructed your fathers a thousand 
years ago. 

" ' Dochas liagh gach anro.' This was the old language in which 
they taught their sons wisdom ; and though we but partially use the 
words of our fathers, yet I am sure we retain their spirit ; and there- 
fore, when I use the tongue of our oppressors to express its meaning, 
and assure you that 

• Hope is the physician of each misery,* 

you will at once agree with me, that we may take to ourselves the 
consolation of both ; and as the good physician Hope assures us, 
that the deep misery we have endured having brought us really to 
the worst, we are now, even according to the proverb of our foes, 
likely to mend. 

" But why need I go to old proverbs to draw forth an augury of 
the good that awaits us ? Do I not see before me, at this present 
moment, men who, alive to the sense of their country's degradation, 
are deeply determined to shake off the yoke of the oppressor ; and 
if they cannot obtain justice by asking for it, are resolved to take it 
without leave ? Men who are disposed to avoid bloodshed if they 
can, but would rather shed their own blood than live in slavery. 
Do I not speak the feelings of every heart ? Answer, men of Ireland ! 
and let the wild rocks which surround us be witness to your vows, as 
they echo back the loud signal of approaching freedom." 

A loud shout was the appropriate response on the part of the 
hearers, to this last appeal of the speaker ; and if it might be esti- 
mated by its strength and duration, they certainly justified the 
expectation he had formed, for a more wild and terrific uproar was 
never heard from the lungs of mortal men ; and the old rocks seemed 



112 THE OLD SAILORS 

to catch life at the noise, and re-echoed it back in many a strange ard 
dismal tone. 

The curiosity natural to a situation and scene so peculiar, induced 
me, during the continuance of the speech, to creep gradually closer 
to the edge of the cave ; and just as the vociferous shouts came 
thundering up the rock, I was partially leaning over the ledge, trying 
to catch a glimpse of the speaker, when my foot slipped from a loose 
fragment of rock, and in the struggle to regain my position my hat 
was partially removed from its place, and in a moment after, by a 
sudden gust of wind, was rolled down into the very midst of the 
men below. 

" Lie flat on the face of ye, quick !" said Feargus, grasping my 
shoulder, and forcing me down along with himself the instant the hat 
left my head : and well it was for us, for scarcely had it touched the 
ground when a dozen balls flew whistling past us, and a loud and 
fierce shout arose for vengeance on the spy. 

"What shall we do now ?*' I inquired, as soon as the momentary 
surprise and fear permitted ; " are they able to climb the rock ?" 

" Divil a bit," replied Feargus, " but the bullets can enter the cave ; 
and if they have the sinse to stand furder away, they may tache us to 
be off in a hurry." 

" Had we not better move at once,*' I inquired, " for fear your guess 
should be true?" 

" Bide aisy for a moment," he answered, " and we'll see how the 
wind sits." 

We accordingly lay still, waiting for some indication from below ' 
all was silent, and I imagined the whole assembly were anxiously look- 
ing for some mark, at which to fire, and experienced no little comfor 
on reflecting that the strong rock was between us and the death which 
threatened from so many guns. In this supposition there was not any 
error, for we heard some one cry out, who had apparently been 
examining the article — 

" It is the hat of a Saxon !" 

" Death to the spy ! — death to the spy !" — shouted a hundred voices 
and immediately was poured a whole volley of balls into the moutr. 
of the cave, which shelled off many a piece from the roof, and partly 
covered us with the scattered fragments, while the spent bullets fell 
harmlessly on the floor of the cave. 

" Well be after moving now," said Feargus, " and let the boy- 
amuse themselves till the powther be out. Blur and agurs!" he cried 
as I rose to go, "is it ball-proof ye are, to rear yourself up that away i 
By dad, and if myself was there, it's a peppering ye'd get." 

Scarcely had the words escaped his lips when a bullet shot whizzinf 
past us in a slanting direction, fully justified the shrewd cautio* 
he displayed, as it struck off the piece of rock close by the vex 
piace in which I was standing, and would, in all probability, ha\- 
found its way through my head, but for the violent remonstrance ot 
my companion. 

" Let's be humble for onst in our lives," said Feargr..?, " and go on 



JOLLY BOAT. 113 

our kneos now, if we niver did before. Come along/' he continued, 
" or rather go along, for it's before me ye'll thravel, or I'll be having 
a berrin that's not bargin'd for." 

I was not disposed to gainsay the recommendation of the thoughtful 
host, after the proofs I bad had of his great sagacity ; and therefore 
pursuing his directions, I crept along on my hands and knees, with 
Feargus close behind me, and was not a little gratified to escape, as 
more than one random ball came whistling and bounding against the 
rocky sides of the cave, and, in some instances, dropped close beside 
us. Loi'.g after we had regained our upright position the muskets 
continued to go off, and it was not till the distance carried us beyond 
earshot, that the reports wholly died away. 

We had travelled in silence along the dripping and dark part of 
the cavern, until we came to the place where it expanded into a lofty 
dome, lighted pleasantly from an opening near the top ; and on 
reaching this more comfortable spot my companion turned round, 
and looking at me with an expression of irresistible drollery, he burst 
into a fit of laughter, so loud that the old cavern was filled with the 
comic sounds, and repeated his successive peals till the entire place 
seemed full of laughing voices, that knew no bounds to their mirth. 

After this had continued some time, it appeared to strike Feargus 
that he ought to explain to me the cause of this uproarious mirth. 
Not knowing what tickled his fancy so strangely, I stood in a doubtful 
attitude, amused certainly, but still wishful to know something about 
the cause of this obstreperous mirth. The effort apparently produced 
an opposite effect, for instead of satisfying my curiosity, he only 
laughed the louder ; and leaning on my shoulder to prevent his falling, 
he absolutely screeched with the inextinguishable cachination. 

" I ax — I axes," he at length stammered at intervals ; " I axes par 
— pardon — a thousand — thousand times — but — but — but it is so 
droll " — and away he went again with the same loud peal as before. 

" What is it that amuses you?" I asked. " What is it that is so 
droll?" 

" Ounly to think," he replied, becoming more calm, " ounly to think 
— yer honours hat " — and again the fit of laughing overpowered his 
utterance, and he could do nothing but stare and point with his finger, 
every now and then interjecting with violent efforts, 

" Yer honour's hat — yer honour's hat." 

"And what of my hat?" I asked gravely, being rather piqued at 
the pertinacity of his laughter, although strongly inclined to follow the 
example he set me. 

" Och ; yer honour's hat," he replied with a violent effort — " yer 
honour's hat has knocked down a rebellion " — and again he exploded 
in an exhausting laugh. 

" Knocked down a rebellion ! " I exclaimed. " What is it you 



mean r 



?» 



" Mane ?" inquired Feargus, with the most comic look I ever beheld ; 
" jist as I say. Yer honour's hat has knocked down the rebellion ; 
and if ye'll come wid me, we'll stifle it intirely." 
16 



114 THE OLD SAILOR 3 

Totally unable to comprehend the meaning of my host, I followed 
the path he ciiose, and turning round a large projection of lock, we 
began to wind up higher and higher, until at last we emerged ou the 
outside of the rock, and stood within thirty yards of its summit. 

The view from this elevated position was commanding in the 
extreme. On one side beneath us, the broad bosom of tli3 lake 
reflected the full glory of a November's brightest sua. Here and there 
huge masses of wild crags rose abruptly from the lake, which stood out 
conspicuously from the dark bogs beyond them. At some distance 
rose that celebrated hill called the Reek, whose conical summit is 
scarcely ever free from a coronet of clouds, and which is said to.be 
the scene of one of St. Patrick's most useful and most famous 
exploits. The bard who has immortalised his hero, but not himself, 
might have beheld the indented shores, broken up into many a dark 
outline of shaggy beauty, where the rocks breast the wild waves of the 
huge Atlantic, but his eye being fixed on the important history of 
the Saint, forgot all other scenes, and only suug of things essential to 
his story. 

" The Tficklow hills are very high, 

So is the hill of Eowth, Sir, 
But there's a hill much higher still, 

Much higher than thein both, Sir ; 
Upon this hill St. Patrick stood 

And preached the famous surra ant, 
"Which drove the frogs into the bo-s, 

And bothered all the varmint." 

From the lofty ledge on which we stood, the valley we had lately 
seen was not visible ; ample compensation for this loss was afforded 
in the wider range of sceuery, but there was wanting the stir 
of human passion to give life to its interests, and this deficiency 
was the more forcibly felt, from the strong excitement so lately 
experienced. 

While we stood for a few moments regarding this most beautiful but 
lifeless scenery, my host pulled the bottle of whiskey from his pocket, 
and handing it to me, he observed. 

' v A kiss o' the cratur 'ull be pleasant, so just let your lips meet, and 
we'll examine the Larder, and crush the rebellion." 

" I understand the salute," I replied, putting the bottle to my mouth 
and taking a small quantity of what it contained ; " but the ' Larder ' 
and the ' rebellion ' are mysteries." 

" Mysteries !" he exclaimed ; " faith they shall be mysteries no 
longer. Jist let me taste a drhop," he continued putting the bottle to 
his mouth, " and now come along wid ye." 

So saying, he wound along the craggy ledge, which seemed to rise 
in a circular direction, and brought us every moment nearer to its 
summit. When we were within twenty or thirty feet of its highest 
point, the path suddenly widened, and expanded into a kind of natural 
alcove, where a jutting portion of the eminence formed a rude seat, 
that I found extremely agreeable after the fatigue of ascending so far. 



JOLLY BOAT. 115 

The extensive view from this commanding situation contributed greatly 
to my enjoyment, aud it was not without a slight feeling of reluctance 
that I rose to prosecute the upward journey. This, however, I found 
impossible, as just beyond the spot where we stood, a large and deep 
fissure gaped and yawned fearfully across the path, and made me 
feel dizzy to look at the dreadful gorge. Beyond it a mere shelving 
protection offered a precarious footing, by far too dangerous for my 
taste, even supposing it possible to spring over the hideous rent which 
opened below. 

" It's a bad view yer honour ull have of the Larder," said Feargus, 
"if it's here ye's are after staying;" saying which, he bounded across 
the chasm, ran up the side of the shaggy rock, and in an instant was 
out of sight. 

"Where is it possible he can be gone?" I asked aloud, with a 
feeling of mingled astonishment and fear ; at the same time retreating 
further from the dangerous cleft, when a loud scream suddenly 
startled me back into the recess, where I stood for a moment not 
knowing what to do, Another scream succeeded, more fearful than 
the former, and a large eagle suddenly darted from the rock, and 
wheeled rapidly into the air. In a moment afterwards Feargus stood 
in sight, and, to my utter astonishment, holding a child in one arm, 
and a dead lamb in his hand. He threw the lamb over the ravine to 
me, and kneeling down, crossed himself devoutly, and exclaimed, 

" Mother of mercy, I thank thee ; thou hast saved my child ! " 

The singularity of this timely deliverance struck me with great 
astonishment ; and I was reflecting on the providential circumstances 
which had brought us there, when Feargus again sprang over the 
gulf, and coming hastily to me, he grasped my hand with the most 
passionate fervour, as he exclaimed, 

"The blessin of all the saints be about ye's. Sure, sure it's all 
alongst of yer honour that I came here the day ; and if not, och hone, 
och hone, but my darlin would have been lost for ever." 

The thought appeared too much for his manly breast, and kissing 
the child, which nestled and crowed in his bosom, he fairly burst 
into tears, and the big sobs heaved his frame with hysterical 
violence. 

Tears from a man are always painful to see ; and although I could 
not blame the heart of the father for thus powerfully, working, yet 
judging its continuance could only be injurious, I said, 

" The good wife will be in sad trouble." 

The effect was as I had calculated. He suddenly ceased to weep, 
and not noticing the lamb he had taken from the eagle's nest, he 
began to descend the rock much faster than I could follow. Thinking 
it a pity he should lose the fruit of his labour, although more richly 
rewarded another way, I took up the dead carcass of the lamb, and 
proceeded cautiously down the descending path, but was unable to 
overtake Feargus till I reached the domed cave in the centre of the 
rock. By this time I perceived his feelings were more calm, and 
as I drew near with the lamb on my back he smiled faintly, and said, 



116 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

"We both bear the innocents; but mine is alive, praise be to 
God ! " 

" Amen !" I responded ; " but had we not better advance?" 

"And that's thrue, for poor Nora's sake," he replied hastily ; and 
we proceeded together as fast as the nature of the road permitted. 
Every thing remained in the position we had left it. The huge rock 
that blocked up the passage — the secret still — the bolted door — all 
were exactly the same, and might have remained so until doomsday, 
had we not returned to restore them to the condition they were in 
when we first came. 

As we came to the apartment where my trunks were stored, 
preparatory to raising the steps, I stopped, and asked Feargus if it 
would not be better to allow me to proceed and inform his wife, lest 
the sudden sight of the child might occasion too great a shock to her 
nerves. 

" Sorra a bit," replied Feargus. " Sure the sight of the child is 
the best cure for a mother's sorrow; and besides, Nora knows no 
language but her ownd tongue." 

With these words he ascended the steps, and when near the door 
gave a low and peculiar whistle. In a moment afterwards the bed 
was withdrawn, the trap-door raised, and we once again stood in the 
public room of the Pontoon Hotel. 

On coming into this apartment, the scene was touching to the last 
degree. Poor Nora had evidently been weeping, and full of distressing 
sorrow she had hastily sprung to hail her husband's return, with 
a view to communicate their loss, and to find consolation in his arms, 
when the sight of the child struck her with amazement. She held 
up her hands, and her eyes and inouth were opened with astonishment ; 
then giving way to a delirious burst of joy, she laughed hysterically, 
and sunk insensible on the breast of her husband. Feargus was so 
much taken with surprise that he knew not what to do : but holding 
his child in one hand, and supporting his fainting wife with the other, 
seemed petrified with the overwhelming fear that all was lost. 
Greatly affected myself, I yet had sufficient presence of mind to take 
such measures as appeared necessary, and first shutting the trap-door 
and placing the bed over it, I took the child from the stupified father, 
and laid it gently down, and then taking the broken teapot from the 
shelf, ran to the lake, and filling it with water returned to the house, 
in the hope of restoring the fainting wife to her afflicted husband. 
Poor Feargus still remained in the same position — his eyes staring, 
his mouth slightly open, and gazing with lack-lustre looks on the 
inanimate form of his wife. Her head was hanging over his arm, her 
long hair, loosened in the struggle, floating behind her, and her pale 
beautiful face resembling the chisseled marble on a tomb. Approach- 
ing the afflicted pair, I flung some water on Nora's face, which 
made her faintly sigh ; and repeating the application two or three 
times, she seemed to shudder and tremble, and then opening her eyes, 
she cried — 

"Ma bouchal mavourneen" — and rushing hastily to the bed, she 



JOLLY BOAT. 117 

kneeled by its side, and kissed the child with an affection that seemed 
to know no bounds. 

The extravagant joy of his wife restored Feargus to his senses ; 
he stared wildly at her and the baby for half a minute, and then 
rushing to the bed he kneeled by her side, and first kissing the child, 
he then buried his head in the bosom of his wife, and sobbed with 
excessive and unrestrained emotion. Feelings like these should 
neither be seen nor checked, and knowing all danger was past, I 
walked out of the house, and left them to recover their wonted 
equanimity at leisure. 

In the course of ten minutes I found things had resumed something 
of their former condition, and Nora was sitting quietly by the fire, 
nursing the recovered child, and humming a low-toned air, that 
appeared soothing to their mutual feelings. 

" What is become of Shamus ?" I asked, not seeing him either 
inside or outside of the house. 

" It's myself niver axed," replied Feargus, " but I will ; " and 
addressing his wife in Irish, she looked up in reply, pointing to the 
child, and again strained it to her breast with an expression of the 
most passionate affection. 

" He's after the babe," said he ; " and my blessing be on him for 
that same, and the saints purtect him." 

Feargus was now busily employed in his usual avocation. The pigs 
and the fowls were driven out of the house ; the fire was fresh heaped 
with turf; the few articles in the room were put in their accustomed 
places, and the morning's adventures and the night's dangers seemed 
in a manner forgotten, being banished by the more pressing necessity 
of boiling the potatoes for the mid-day meal. 

" You seem to forget the lamb," I observed, seeing that it lay unnoticed 
in the corner where I first placed it ; '" but perhaps you would rather 
keep it till to-morrow, and as that is Sunday, it will be better to do so." 

"The saints forbid !" replied the good-natured host; sure it's crazed 
I am intirely, to forgit the mait yer honour carried so far ; but we'll 
be all right yet," he continued, laying hold of the lamb, and taking it 
outside the house ; he returned in a few minutes with a portion of the 
meat, more neatly prepared than I could have expected, and tying a 
piece of worsted to one end, he suspended it near the fire, and then 
resumed his assustomed occupation. 

The exciting curcumstances of the last half hour had so occupied 
my mind, that I had scarcely reflected on the unpleasant position in 
which I was placed by the loss of my hat, until it was painfully 
brought to my recollection b} T seeing ten or a dozen men passing along 
the road at a short distance from the house, most of them armed with 
guns or other weapons such as 1 had seen a short time before in the 
valley beyond the rock. 

" There goes a squad of the army of Liberators," said Feargus ; 
** and by my sowl, it's an awkward squad they are, sure enough. Did 
I not tell yer honour that yer hat had crushed the rebellion ? and faith 
its thrue enough, for the boys 'ull come there no more." 



118 THE OLD SA1L0S*S 

"But what am I to do without a hat?" I asked. "If any of these 
misguided men should meet me, they would make up for the loss of 
their rebellion by a little private bloodshed ; and considering the 
savage character they displayed last night, I should have but small 
chance of escape, unless I had a protector like you." 

'* Yer honour spakes truth, and it's myself is bothered intirely," 
he replied, scratching his head, and looking most ludicrously per- 
plexed : then slapping his thigh with great force, he began to laugh, 
saying, 

" By dad, but we must make an Irishman of ye. I've a dress of a 
dead brother, rest his sowl, that 'ull fit ye's intirely ; and it's nate and 
illigant ye'll look, and sorra a one o' them 'ull ax ye's a question 
at ail." 

The expedient of Mr. O'Connor appeared the only one likely to 
extricate me from the dilemma I was in, and the hope of safety 
overcame my reluctance to appear in this disguise. The dress was 
produced, and hastily douned, and as it seemed to fit quite as well as 
the generality of dresses in this part of the world, and although very 
strange to myself, yet was likely enough to escape observation from 
others. A coarse felt hat, slouched down over my face, and a long 
frieze coat enveloped the body, while a twisted hay-band, dexte- 
rously put on by Feargus, served to cover the legs from the feet to the 
knees. 

" It's a dacent Connaught boy ye's are now," said Feargus ; but 
ye'll want a Connaught tongue, or no tongue at all." 

" How then," I asked, " shall I find my way through this strange 
country of yours, unless I can ask the way ? If Shamus was here — " 

" It's myself is here," interrupted Shamus, coming in ; '' but — but," 
he stammered, staring with surprise at the strange companion of 
Feargus, and evidently at a loss to tell who was before him. 

" Have you forgotten the dead horse, Shamus ? " I asked. 

" Och, by the powers, it's yer honour's self, and so it is," he replied, 
jumping and capering with joy ; " but sure enough I should niver 
have known it, ownly for the voice." 

" Ye's may thravel safely," said Feargus, " for the boys 'ull not 
suspect yer looks, and Shamus can find tongue for both." 

tk Botheration," replied Shamus, laughing, " it's myself has hardly 
tongue enough for one ; but sure we'll thry, at a pinch." 

With this arrangement I was compelled to be satisfied ; and as 
the day was already drawing to a close, I was anxious to commence 
a journey that must be continued far into the night before it came 
to a conclusion. The route I wanted to go lay the same way that 
Shamus wished to travel, and we agreed to walk to the next market 
town, where I could buy the horses I had promised the poor fellow the 
previous night, and at the same time procure a conveyance and 
purchase another dress. My trunks were to remain at the Pontoon 
till Shamus could fetch them, along with his cart : but not, as he 
said, before he had showed Kathleen the horses, and settled the day of 
his wedding. 



JOLLY EOAT, 119 

After partaking in a very primitive fashion of the roasted lamb, 
we parted from my friendly host of the Pontoon, not without many 
a hearty shake of the hand, and many a promise on my part to visit 
him again. When I went to bid adieu to the wife, she was nursing 
the little fellow who had had such a wonderful escape, while the other 
was playfully pulling her hair behind, which hung gracefully in natural 
ringlets round her neck. I stooped to kiss the little chubby urchins, 
and was rather put to the blush when the woman rose and offered me, 
not her hand to shake, but her cheek to kiss. I met the eye of 
Feargus, who smiled, and said, 

" Kiss her, yer honour ; it's an honest cheek she has, and will shame 
no man." 

Thus exhorted, as may be imagined, I gave the expected salute, 
and making a curtsey, she resumed her maternal occupation. 

" Jist a drhop to help ye's on the w r ay," said Feargus, thrusting a 
bottle of whiskey into the pocket of Shamus ; " it's pliuty o' water 
ye'll git, but sorra a taste o' poteen like that for many a mile." 

With this last act of kindness on the part of my warm-hearted 
landlord I left the Pontoon, and not without very strong emotions of 
gratitude for the extraordinary deliverance I had experienced. 

The path which we pursued on leaving the house, led, in the first 
place, on the borders of the lake ; and as the weather was fine for 
the season of the year, and the wind still, the calm expanse of water 
at once delighted the eye, and shed a reflection of its own tranquillity 
over the mind. Here and there aquatic birds skimmed the surface of 
the lake, or hovered gracefully on sweeping pinions above it, while in 
the far-off distance a solitary eagle sat perched on the craggy rock, or 
darted swiftly in pursuit of his prey. When we quitted the side of 
the lake the road stretched over a dreary bog, intersected at irregular 
distances by roads similar to the one we traversed, and upon these 
roads we perceived several groups of men and women, all bearing in 
one direction, and which, so far as I could judge, seemed to be not far 
from the road we were going. For the first several miles I had 
travelled on in silence, or only now and then exchanging an odd word 
or two with my companion, but now the shades of evening began to 
fall around us, and the distant objects becoming: less and less distinct, 
the feeling of our situation brought home my thoughts, and induced ■* 
freer communication than I had hitherto used. In either case, I founa 
Shamus willing to fall in with my humour ; while I continued silent, 
he seldom spoke, and whenever I addressed him, the response was 
always ready, and answered to the tone in which I had spoken to him. 

As the darkness increased fast upon us, I was anxious to get over 
the bog before all day-light was gone, lest a false step should prove 
fatal to one or both of us. 

" Had we not better move foster, Shamus," I said, " and get away 
from the bog before the light is all gone?" 

" Fair and aisey goes far," replied Shamus," not mending his pace at 
all ; " we'll not need to hurry to get out of the bog, becase we're jist 
laving it." 



\'20 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

" What lights are those ?" I asked, having got on a few paces first, 
and ascended a small elevation in the road. 

" Lights ? " echoed Shamus, coming up beside me, " it's the good 
people — Grace be about us." 

" Good people," I replied, " then we need not fear them. Come 
along." 

" Hould, hould !" he cried, in great perturbation ; " they won't bear 
it." 

" Bear it, indeed," I said ; " what have they to bear?" 

" Och, sure, yer honour," he replied in a whisper, " it's themselves 
can't bear to be seen." 

"Then they cant be very good people," I exclaimed, " for good 
people do not mind who sees them." 

" Spake aisey," whispered Shamus close to my ear, " these are the 
fairies." 

" Indeed," I replied, " then some of them are a pretty good size, for 
they seem as tall as men." 

" It's bothered I am," cried Shamus; " it's not the fairies at all, but 
a berrin at the Ould Abbey." 

" Does it lie in our way ? " I inquired. 

*' The road is jist convanient," he replied, " and touches the 
broken wall." 

" Then do not ask me any questions till we are past them," I said, 
' or it may be attended with danger." 

To this Shamus assented, and we walked on in silence. When we 
drew near to the old Abbey, the moon had risen, but was partially 
overcast, so that the strong glare, which I now perceived came from 
the lighted torches, gave us a fuller view of the people assembled, and 
at the same time left us in greater obscurity. By the time we came 
up, all the group appeared to have left the road, and had congregated 
inside the walls, from whence there issued at intervals low and dismal 
tones, as if many voices were united. Every now and then the noise 
increased, and although in itself very sad and mournful, yet the 
measured strains in which it rose and fell, had in them something 
soothingly pleasing. 

" They are keening the dead," said Shamus, listening ; " and it's 
not in their beds they died." 

" Where did they die?" I asked; my mind reverting to the night 
before, when some, I knew, had fallen in the attack on the Pontoon. 

" Whisht," he cried, " the boys are fighting who shall be berried 
first." 

" Nonsense," I replied, " what does it signify ? " 

" Signify," he said, " sure the last 'ull have to fetch water for the 
rest till another comes." 

It was no time for arguing against this superstition, and therefore 
leaving the assertion with Shamus, I stole gently forward, and had no 
difficulty in finding a rent in the wall, sufficient to afford a view of the 
singular scene within. 

It was, as Shamus had called it, an old Abbey. The roof was off, 




-y/s v^tfas??/ #^ tt^ ts//s/ . - 



JOLLY EOAT. 12 1 

and a great portion of the walls had fallen in. Three or four of the 
pointed arches still remained ; but, with this exception, all else was 
ruinous to the last degree. Within the space formerly occupied by 
the altar, several scores of men and women were assembled, and at 
the time we came up they were occupied rather strangely. Near 
the centre were three coffins ; on each of these were placed several 
bottles and glasses, and beside them were seated various groups, in the 
act of drinking and smoking. On one side was a fierce fight going 
forward, where the females seemed as busy as the men, and all were 
mingled pell-mell together. One woman in particular was exceedingly 
active, having, as I thought, a stocking in her hand, the foot of which 
appeared to be loaded with a stone or other heavy substance, with 
which she had struck a man to the ground, and was in the act of 
repeating the blow. Along with the clatter of the sticks mingled 
the loud curses and angry tones of the fighters ; but as the language 
was unknown to me, I could only judge of its meaning by the acts 
which enforced it, and these were bitter and energetic in the extreme. 
All of a sudden the sounds ceased, and the fierce contention was 
ended; I turned to look what had produced this strange silence, 
and saw an aged Priest (accompanied by two boys dressed in white), 
who had made his way into the midst of the motley group, and holding 
up the cross, he cried, 

> " Forbear this unholy strife in the house of the dead." 
. ' A deep silence ensued, and all was still, when a strange, sepulchural 
"■oice repeated in a hollow tone, 

" Forbear 1' 

Every eye was turned in the direction from whence the sound came, 
and in the middle of the centre arch appeared the ghostly form of the 
>' White Lady of the Cliff." 



CHAPTER VII. 

The solemn and distinct voice of the Priest had the effect of 
tranquillising the turbulent passions of the assembled throng ; glasses 
and bottles were removed, pipes were thrust hastily into the pocket, 
and the uplifted shillelaghs were arrested in mid-air. All the assembly 
were impressed with their accustomed reverence for the sacerdotal 
character, and stood reproved for their tumultuous conduct in a sacred 
place ; many hung down their heads for shame, and the whole company 
were silent, when the slow sepulchral voice of the White Lady attracted 
every eye in that direction, and they beheld the pale, shadowy form, 
floating, as it seemed, down the middle of the centre aisle, and ap- 
proaching within a few yards of the place where they stood. In an 
instant the greatest confusion prevailed — women and children shrieked 
—lights were extinguished— men swore, and strove, and struggled — 
16 



122 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

the coffins were overthrown, and a most violent and tumultuous rush 
was made, to escape from this dreadful vision. Some sprung over the 
ruined walls — others clambered through broken arches — not a few 
were seen rolling on the ground — and one and all, impressed with the 
greatest terror, fled as fast as possible in all directions over the country, 
so that in the space of three minutes, not a soul remained inside the 
walls, with the exception of the aged Priest. 

As the pale moon-beams streamed quietly in between the half-ruined 
aisles, so lately illumined with the more glaring lights from the 
flaming torches, I could perceive the reverend gentleman still standing 
near the spot where the coffins were overturned ; and, as I thought, 
impressed with astonishment at the sudden disappearance of the friends 
of the dead. From him my eyes reverted to the place where the 
apparition had appeared ; but nothing could be seen in the deep and 
solemn gloom that seemed to stretch into infinity, and was lost in its 
own darkness. Every thing was still, and the silence of night had 
fallen over the place so lately noisy with indecorous mirth, or still 
more desecrated by the violent struggles of unholy men. 

" Have mercy on the souls of the departed !" said the Priest, looking 
up towards Heaven ; and folding his hands in an attitude of devotion, 
he stood for a few moments without uttering a word, and then stooped 
and took hold of one of the coffins, in a vain attempt to restore it to 
its former position. 

" Permit me to help you," I said ; coming forward, and taking hold 
of the opposite end. 

"You are a stranger," he exclaimed, rearing himself up, and stepping 
backwards a few paces, as if uncertain of my purpose. 

" I am," I replied ; " but that can be no reason for refusing to join 
in an act of humanity, and this labour is beyond your strength." 

" It is, indeed," he assented ; " for the feebleness of old age is upon 
me, and it is but little I can do now." 

" Then allow me," I said, " to call my companion, and we will 
lower the coffins into the graves while you perform the service for 
the dead." 

'* Who is your companion ? " he inquired, in an accent rather sus- 
picious ; then immediately changing his tone, he continued, " Call him, 
in the name of God, and let the work be done." 

Thus sanctioned, I stepped towards the place where Shamus and 
I had been first stationed, and looking through the broken wall, 
I called 

" Shamus, Shamus." 

To this there was no reply ; and lifting up my voice considerably 
louder, I called again, 

" Shamus — Shamus — where are you ? Come here." 

Still the same death-like silence was observed ; and fearing he had 
either run away with the others, or that something had befallen him, 
I stepped round an angle of the wall, and coming into the open 
moonlight, was surpired by the view of a grotesque individual, whose 
appearance and actions were most remarkable. 



JOLLY BOAT. 123 

From what I could first perceive, his stature was that of a dwarf, 
not exceeding three feet six inches, or at the very most, four feet in 
height ; while the breadth of his shoulders, and the brawniness of 
his limbs, gave indications of extraordinary strength. A sort of 
ragged dress terminated loosely at the knees, leaving his sturdy legs 
bare, till they were lost at the bottom, where a pair of heavy brogues 
covered his huge mis-shaped feet. His large shock head was bare ; 
he had a short pipe in his mouth ; one hand grasped a shillelagh in 
the middle, and the other held a sort of hat, which, it appeared, he 
had taken off to make obeisance to a bottle of whiskey which stood 
on the ground, and before which he was bowing with profound 
politeness. 

" Is it there ye are, jewel ? " I heard him say, as I stood still with 
astonishment ; " all alone in your glory. Faith, it's my ownd self 'ull 
be afther having compassion upon ye. 

'I'll not leave thee, thou lone one,' 

bad luck to me if I do, darlint ; so come along wid ye." 

Then filling a glass which lay on the ground beside the bottle, he 
said seriously, at the same time holding the vessel at arms' length, 

" I drhink to our better acquaintance, ould chap, and faix well be 
one before we part agin." 

So saying, he emptied the glass, and stood for a minute as if pausing 
on the taste. This evidently pleased him ; for, filling his glass again, 
he continued, 

" It's a sweet cratur ye are, any way, and my compliments to the 
man that made ye, and we'll thank him for the next bottle." 

The contents of the glass vanished, and putting that into one pocket 
and the bottle into the other, he clapped the hat on the side of his 
head, flung his shillelagh in the air, caught it in falling, and then 
cutting an extravagant caper, he sung out lustily, 

" 'Oh ! brave King Brian he knew the way 
To keep the peace, and to make the hay ; 
For those who were bad, he knocked off their head, 
And those who were worse, he killed them dead ; ' 

and a purty polite ould soul he was, sure enough," he continued; 
" but it's myself 'ud bother him entirely ;" and he laughed out loudly 
till the old walls re-echoed his voice, and formed a strange contrast 
between the rude mirth without and the deep melancholy and silence 
that reigned within. 

** Is that you, Thady ? " said the clear voice of the old Priest, as he 
came forward. 

" The same, and no one else," replied Thady, dropping at once all 
expression of mirth and the extravagant gestures in which he had 
been indulging ; and approaching the Priest, he made a low bow, and 
then stood quietly before him. 

"This is not the companion you sought," said the Priest to me. 



124 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

" No, it is not," I replied ; " but he is coming, I perceive, and we 
can now assist you to inter the dead." 

By this time Shamus had approached us from the other side of the 
Abbey ; and after one or two questions from the Priest, we returned 
together to the place where the coffins still remained, and prepared to 
accomplish the solemn task of committing the remains of these un- 
known persons to the last prison-house of frail mortality, 

There was something exceedingly solemn in being thus engaged in 
a solitary ruin, among total strangers, and probably helping to bury 
the very men who had lost their lives in the attack on the dwelling 
which had sheltered me the previous night. The long shadows of the' 
pointed arches lay irregularly over the unequal ground, and amongst 
the broken pillars on its surface, while the drooping branches of ivy, 
moving slowly in the night- wind, seemed to give a melancholy life to 
the otherwise motionless shadows. The quiet and glistening stars 
shone brightly above us, each pursuing its glorious path, and appa- 
rently regardless of the joys and sorrows which wait on human nature. 
The black and dilapidated walls of the old Abbey stood up in shaggy 
masses against the clear sky, and the whole scene was fully calculated 
to strike the senses with that melancholy awe which is most appro- 
priate to the " house appointed for all living." Even the deep and 
tremulous tones of the old Priest's voice, as he pronounced the last 
benediction on the dead, seemed to harmonize exceedingly well with 
these solemn feelings ; and altogether, the whole scene was so impressive, 
that the remembrance of it is not likely to be soon erased. 

The appearance of my figure in the Connaught dress being so much 
at variance with my speech, had apparently struck the Priest as some- 
what singular ; and it was this, in the first instance, that had excited 
suspicion in his mind, and led him to keep more aloof than was agree- 
able to my feelings. This suspicion, however, was not of long 
continuance, for while Shamus and Thady were both busy in filling 
the graves, he came up to me, and said, 

" If a night's lodging, and such fare as I have, will be acceptable to 
Si stranger, I bid you welcome in the name of God." 

"And in that sacred name," I replied, " I will thankfully accept the 
hospitality you offer." 

"Let us proceed, then," said he, "and Thady and Shamus can 
follow." 

Then speaking to Thady, and bidding him bring Shamus when they 
had finished their work, he led the way across the moor in a direction 
opposite to that which I had come. 

We journeyed on together for some time in silence, each of us, as it 
appeared, too much occupied with our own thoughts to be willing to 
divert them by engaging in conversation. What occupied the mind 
of the Priest I could not guess, but, for my own part, the series of 
events in which I had become so undesignedly mixed up, seemed to 
be becoming more and more inextricable, and they certainly involved 
me in a labyrinth of perplexity without a clue. The singular appear- 
ance of the White Lady of the Cliff, producing, as it did, such instan- 




uld b evt 'I^^Ms'KqmXL 



<uA/ sTieit/- *^s / iyf7///fr 



JOLtY BOAT 125 

taneoiis and powerful effect, became connected in my mind with the 
fate of that lovely girl whom I had seen on the previous day in such 
sad and painful circumstances ; and whether it might be that I traced 
some distant resemblance in their figure, or it was merely a freak of 
the imagination, as unaccountable as it was strange, I could not tell ; 
yet, whatever was the secret cause, the effect was certain, and I could 
never think of the one without immediately connecting her with the 
other. More than once the idea obtruded itself, and the question 
followed, Are they the same ? and is this the spirit of the murdered 
girl ? But here the reply was instant — No, it cannot be : for, besides 
that I was no believer in the manifestations of disembodied spirits, the 
expressions that dropped from Feargus, when we first saw her on the 
lake, intimated an acquaintance of longer standing than was justified 
by the recent outrage on the captive lady. They could not, therefore, 
be the same : and why they were associated together in my mind was 
altogether a mystery. Whatever channel the contemplations of the 
Priest had previously taken, it was evident they had at last fallen into 
the same direction as my own : for on coming to a more even part of 
the road, he turned to me and said, 

" The Irish are a singular race. To see them one moment all 
drinking, singing, fighting — even in presence of the dead ; and the 
next moment frightened out of their wits, and scampering over the 
country as if their very lives depended on their speed — who can judge 
them?" 

" It is singular enough," I remarked ; " and yet the cause of their 
fear appears still more so. The White Lady of the Cliff — " 

"So," said the Priest, interrupting me, "you are acquainted with 
that strange vision ?" 

" I have thrice beheld her," I replied ; " and every time, she has 
filled the beholders with the extremity of fear." 

" Indeed !" answered the Priest, with a strong expression of surprise 
— " then, according to the superstition of these parts, you have not 
long to live." 

" But your own belief," I argued, travels not in that direction." 

" Young man," said he, solemnly, " our lives are in the hands of 
one who never errs, and to be prepared for that great change is the 
highest wisdom." 

There was no gainsaying this serious truth, proper in itself at all 
times, and coming from an aged minister of the church ; it was also 
made doubly powerful by the recent act in which we had been 
engaged. But still there existed so much of mysteiw over the subject 
of our discourse, that after allowing a few minutes to pass in silence, 
I again brought it back, by asking if he could inform me of any 
particulars concerning this singular being, who seemed to be exempt 
from the laws of humanity, and yet had some intimate connexion 
with it ? 

" Your question," replied the Priest, " would obtair i a different 
answer, according to the education and views of the pai ty addressed. 
If you inquire of our more ignorant and rustic peasantry, you will 



126 THE OLD SAILORS 

obtain a legend sufficiently wild, and attested by affirmations of a 
singularly numerous class ; but for my own part, although residing in 
the neighbourhood for many years, I have not been disposed to credit 
the strange tales that are told about her, and up to this very night I 
have doubted of her existence. My own eyes have, however, settled 
that fact ; but who, or what she is, may furnish matter for further 
investigation." 

" May I trouble you for the legend," I asked, " if not disagreeable 
to relate ? " 

" It scarcely becomes the cloth I wear," he replied mildly, " to 
repeat the wonderful stories with which the country people amuse or 
abuse themselves, by legends of witches, ghosts, fairies, fetches, and 
other shadowy or ideal forms, with which the liveliness of their own 
imaginations have peopled the lakes and mountains of this wild country; 
and yet, from the fact of this unexpected vision to-night, connected 
with her previous story, I know no reason why I should refrain from 
telling you 

THE LEGEND 



THE WHITE LADY OE THE CLIEE. 

" It is now fast verging on sixty years since an old gentleman, who 
was at once very wealthy and very singular in his habits, occupied a 
roomy, castellated house, distant some fifteen or twenty miles from the 
abbey we have just left. His wife had been dead for many years, 
and the only being about whom he cared was a daughter, just escaping 
from her teens, and adorned with all the beauty that belongs to the 
sex. For her to express a wish, was to have it gratified ; for the old 
man doated on her immoderately, and never thought he could do half 
enough to please her. Night and day his anxiety was always the same 
— every moment thinking of her, and never happy except he was 
making her some fresh present, or giving her some new token of his 
regard. Dresses of the most expensive kind, jewels the most rare and 
costly, were continually heaped upon her, and his brains were always 
on the rack to find out some new thing with which to gratify her. No 
doubt there was a slight touch of insanity in this behaviour, but as it 
was of a praiseworthy kind, and not detrimental to his estates, there 
was no one to find fault with his proceedings, or to check the over- 
flowing sallies of his affection. 

" The daughter, it is said, was every way deserving the tenderness 
bestowed upon her ; for, in addition to the extreme beauty of her 
person, which is described as far beyond the lot of any woman in 
Con naught, she was mild, gentle, and virtuous, and repaid her father's 
fondness in a degree nearly equal to his own. To study what would 
please him became her constant employment, and she never appeared 
half so happy, as when some little scheme of her devising excited 
unusual pleasure in her father's mind. 



JOLLY BOAT. 127 

" Things were progressing thus until she had nearly attained her 
twentieth year, when accident brought her acquainted with a young 
gentleman of the neighbourhood, whose pleasing manners and insinu- 
ating address had the effect of gaining her attachment ; and with the 
consent of each other's friends, the young people were united. 

" For some time after the marriage, matters appeared to go on as 
pleasantly as could be wished. The old man continued to cherish his 
daughter with the same affection as formerly, and the husband was 
more attentive than husbands commonly are. The beautiful girl was 
cheerful and happy, and the prospect of becoming a mother only added 
to her joy. 

" About three months after this event had taken place, a circum- 
stance occurred that unfolded the real character of the man she had 
wedded, and which, unhappily, terminated in her father's death. By 
the persuasions of her husband, and for the sake of a little change, 
they had gone to reside at an ancient building belonging to him, 
situated in a wild and rocky glen, from which could be seen an 
extensive view over one of the lakes lying distant some few miles to the 
west; and whilst there, she first perceived a change in his habits, 
which induced her to suspect that every thing was not as she would 
have desired it to be. He was absent frequently without letting her 
know where he was going. Once or twice she had noticed him in the 
company of wild-looking strangers ; and sometimes when he had led 
her to believe that his affairs called him to a distance, she had reason 
to suppose he was close at hand. All these were occurrences of a 
painful nature for a young, fond wife, to think upon ; and their 
disagreeableness was greatly increased by the vagueness of his replies 
to her inquiries, and the abruptness of his behaviour. 

" One stormy night, when the equinoctial gale was roaring with 
more than ordinary violence, and the battlements of the old house 
were shaking as if yielding to the fury of the blast, she was sitting 
alone in her apartment, watching the babe that slept sweetly before 
her, unmindful of the storm without, when a loud crash at the end of 
the passage alarmed her, and hastily rising up, she rushed to her father's 
apartment, and found it occupied by several ruffians, and the old man 
struggling to free himself from their grasp. 

" ' Oh ! leave him, leave him ! ' she cried wildly, flinging herself into 
the midst of the band ; and throwing her arms round her father's neck, 
seemed determined not to be separated from him. Her energetic 
demonstration seemed to stagger their resolution, and one or two 
quitted their hold of the victim, and retreated a few steps backward. 

" ' Ha ! dastards !' shouted an individual who appeared to be the 
leader ; ' is it thus ye keep faith ? On with the work, or — " He drew 
forth a dagger, and flourished it menacingly above their heads : when 
the distracted girl, as if recognising the voice, withdrew from her 
father's neck, darted forward, and tearing the mask from the villain's 
face, beheld — her husband ! A scream — a wild, hysteric, scream, burst 
from the horror-stricken woman, and she fell senseless on the flcr**. 

" * Away ! away' ! shouted the infuriated man. * Bind the old fooi, 



128 THE OLD SAILORS 

and up with the carrion — the lake is deep enough for both — away, and 
do my bidding !' Thus urged, the ruffians speedily bound the old man, 
and taking up the inanimate body of his daughter, they hurried with 
rapid steps along the lonely glen, and stood in the midst of the howling 
storm, on the borders of the foaming lake. 

" ' Quick, quick !' shouted their leader ; and his voice arose louder 
than the raging wind. 

" ' Save my child ! save my child !' shrieked the old man, in tones of 
earnest entreaty, which ought to have pierced their ears with the keen- 
ness of a dagger's point ; but the insensate wretches dropped him over 
the cliff, the tumultuous waters received him in their cold embrace, 
and he rose no more. Almost at the same moment, the villains threw 
in the daughter after her parent, and she also disappeared : but whilst 
the murderers stood gazing upon the scene, in order to satisfy them- 
selves that the work of destruction was complete, a female figure, in 
white raiment, similar to the dress of her they had only a few minutes 
before plunged beneath the waves, stood on the summit of a perpen- 
dicular cliff that rose from the middle of the lake, and was seen 
against the murky sky, using violent and indignant gestures, as if 
threatening the murderers below with vengeance. The daring wretch 
who had sacrificed both his wife and father, took out a pistol and fired 
at the figure ; the report reverberated through the rocky caves, while 
a broad flash of lightning illuminated the scene, and the husband 
recognised the form of his wife, as a loud laugh of derision burst from 
her, and rung frightfully in their ears, above the tumult of the storm. 

" This unaccountable and apparently supernatural vision struck 
terror into the consciences of those who had been guilty of so foul a 
deed. Uttering cries of fear, and dropping their weapons, they fled 
with the utmost trepidation, each trying to outrun the other, so as to 
be the first to escape from this alarming apparition, and 1 " their ears still 
ringing with the vengeful laugh, that, like the shrieking of fiends, had 
so much affrighted them. Onwards they rushed, not knowing whither 
they went, but anxious to leave the object of alarm behind ; and one 
amongst the gang was so conscious-stricken, that early the next morning 
he was found at the door of the county gaol, shivering with dread, and 
begging admission within its walls, as a place of refuge. By the con- 
fession of this man, it appeared that a desperate gang of thieves and 
smugglers had long infested the western coast ; that the husband of 
the young lady had been their captain, and carried on their enterprises 
more outrageously than they had ever been before ; that to encourage 
them the more effectually, he had proposed the murder of the old man, 
and the division of his wealth ; and their plans embraced the seizure 
and subjugation of all the maritime towns in that part of the kingdom. 
How much of this tale might be true, it is impossible to say. Many 
deeds of violence had been committed, and a species of companionship 
was noticed among the desperate characters along the coast. The clue 
obtained to their haunts and intentions, enabled the authorities to 
apprehend great numbers of these lawless men, many of whom were 
executed according to the formalities of the law ; but the chief 



JOLLY BOAT. 129 

instigator of the murderous outrage that led to these discoveries, 
escaped the search that was made for him, and for several years was 
not heard of in the country. 

" In the meantime, the young child, thus deprived of its parents, was 
removed from the old house, which went to decay, and became an 
object of superstitious awe to the surrounding population. The glen 
itself acquired an evil name, and.the rocky cliff was shunned by all, as 
a place haunted by the spirit of the murdered woman. Many a tale 
was told by the fishermen who had unwittingly ventured too near this 
haunted spot, about the White Lady of the Cliff. Sometimes she was 
said to be sitting on its summit, in a calm evening, apparently nursing 
a child, and there were those who affirmed that they heard the 
plaintive lullaby that she sung as she seemed in the act of dandling it 
on her knee. Others, again, had beheld her in the midst of the storm; 
her long hair and white garments waving in the wind, and her thin 
arms stretched wildly over the surging waves that rolled below. 
Sometimes a frail bark bore her rapidly over the waters, without- either 
oar or sail ; and the boat, it was said, glided wherever she chose, 
needing no other impulse than her own will. 

" What degree of truth there might be in any of these stories, it is 
not easy to say. Some things, contradictory in themselves, were 
rendered more so by the fears or fancies of those that related them. 
One eventful tale would be sure to be improved on by another more 
extravagant ; and at this distance of time, it is hard to separate that 
which was really fact, from the legends by which it was enveloped. 
One report declared that the lady had been in a trance till the sudden 
plunge in the water awaked her to life, and she escaped to land ; but 
that her faculties were so affected, that reason had left her, and when 
she showed herself on the cliff, it was as a raving maniac bereft of 
sense ; that in this condition she really lived for many years, and was 
at last found dead in the very spot where her father had been seized. 
Some degree of credibility appears clue to this report, from the fact of 
the corpse of an old woman having been found in the desolated 
apartment of the house ; and from the heterogeneous materials which 
had been patched on an originally white dress, it might be conjectured 
that she had subsisted in that solitary condition. No direct proof 
however, could be adduced, and the peasantry were left still in the 
possession of their favourite horror in the ' White Lady of the Cliff.' 

" The abominable author of this unnatural crime paid dearly for his 
guilt; he did not die by the hands of justice, and his life was 
prolonged beyond the ordinary span of human existence ; but the 
agony and remorse of his mind, for a long series of years, anticipated 
the doom beyond the grave, and his despair was past the cure of our 
holy church. His confession was taken in Spain, whither he had 
fled after the night of the murder, and has been published by the 
Inquisition as a warning to mankind." 

"And the child?" I asked, when the Priest had ceased from 
speaking, " What became of the child? " 

"It was placed under the care of proper persons," replied he, "who 
17 



180 THE OLD SAILOB'S 

brought her up as became her rank ; and when of age, being in 
possession of her property, which was considerable, she was married 
to a very worthy gentleman whose estates lay contiguous to her own, 
and fur many years, according to all reports, they lived happily 
together in her ancestral house, which goes by the name of ' Munst.ee 
Hall.' " 

Further communication was here interrupted by the sounds of 
some merry voices behind us, whose tones evinced that they were 
influenced partly by a love of fun, and partly by the whiskey they 
had been drinking. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

The obstreperous sounds of hilarious mirth which interrupted our 
discourse proceeded, as might have been expected, from my late 
companion Shamus, and the singular being we had encountered at 
the old Abbey. They were probably not aware that we overheard 
their discourse, as a slight projection of rock gave a bend to the road, 
which obscured us from their view ; and owing to this circumstance, 
the current of their mirth flowed freely, and enabled us to ascertain 
the subjects which amused them so highly. It appears pretty evi- 
dent, that whatever particular current their humour might take, 
the spring which gave activity to their fun was the bottle of whiskey, 
to which Thady was bowing with so much reverence when I first 
beheld him ; as the peculiar twang and brevity of their words, but 
too plainly intimated the inroad the spirits had made in the domi- 
nions of reason. After an unusually loud explosion of laughter, they 
apparently stood still, and we could hear Shamus stammering and 
sputtering, 

" Be aisy — be aisy — it's the death of me yell be, Thady ; sure and 
I'll die wid laughing. Praise the Vargin !" 

To this we heard Thady reply, 

" It's a pious devil ye's are, Shamus ; a delicate plant intirely ; " 
and then changing his tone to the pathetic, he continued, 

u l Ah ! Tvhj' did I gather this delicate flower ? ' 

A mortal pity, for sartain, and be hanged to ye. Come and take another 
taze at the ould un, and lift your soul to glory. Faix, Shamus," 
he cried, changing his tone, " it's the last drhop ; " and then he again 
added. 

" ' I give thee all — I can no more '— 

and it's yerself is a baste to be axing it." 

_ " Bad manners to me," replied Shamus, " if I take it widout a fair 
division." , .- 



JOLLY BOAT, 131 

u It's aisy to grant favours wlien. it obliges a body's ownd self. So 
Lore's a good health to ye's, Shamus, and may we haye more at 
the wedding." Then striking out in a loud voice, he sang, 

" ' Sure, won't you hear 
What roaring cheer 
We'll have at Shamy's wedding, ? ' 

By the power o' whiskey we will, Shamus ; and it's myself 'ull stand 
father, and give Kathleen to ye's, so I will." 

This latter subject apparently touched somewhat tenderly on the feel- 
ings of Shamus, for we heard him respond, in a very altered tone, 

" Oh Thady, and it's welcome ye'll be, and the dear girl 'ull be glad 
to see ye's, so she will." 

" By my sowl, Shamus," replied Thady, " it's truth ye spake, for 
the girls are all delighted to see me. It's an ould trick, for I'm no 
chicken, Shainus ; and from the taty basket that served me for a 
cradle, 

*I was the boy for bewitching 'em.' 

And myself niver axed the reason, nor drhamed of the cause." 
" And was yerself iver in love, Thady ?" asked Shamus. 
" Iver in love ! " exclaimed Thady with mock heroic wonder. *.' Was 

I iver out of love?" he asked, in a tone of affected tenderness; "all 

along, and for iver, 

' My dream of life, from mom till night, 
Is love, still love, 
ftew joys may bloom, 

And days may come, 
When Yfhiskey's joys may beam. 
But there's nothing half no sweet in life 
As Love's young dream.' " 

" And pray," said Shamus, as Thady paused, " who is it that ye's 
loved so intirely?" 

"By the powers," replied Thady, "but I'm puzzled, and so I am. 
Who is it ? Faith, it's a woman ; and myself niver axed her name, 
nor bothered myself about it. All myself knows, 

'She'd a neat taper waist, like a cow in the middle,' 

wid sundry oder charms, too numerous to insert in the small compass 
of a handbill." 

" Thady, it's yerself is too larned, intirely," said Shamus ; " and 
that big head of yours is crammed wid matters that bother a body for 
a winters night." 

"Is it a big head ye's are talking of?" asked Thady. " Sure it's 
my ownd head is jist the right size, but it's this body of mine that 
wants hammering out to make it fit; and troth, now we're spaking of 
&afc same, let's have a bit of a fight, by way of amusement." 



132 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

" Divil a bit will we fight to-night," replied Shamus. " Sure it's 
yerself knows that Kathleen expects me ; and what excuse would I 
make to her if ye's kilt me ? " 

" Och ! botheration, Shamus/'' replied Thady ; " but it's myself 'ull 
not love ye's at all, if it's afraid of righting, ye's are." 

" Afraid," cried Shamus ; " afraid ! It's not afraid at all — but 
there's a time for all things, Thady — a time for all things — and a man 
wouldn't like to be afther making a baste of himself, and be killed, jist 
before his wedding-day." 

"And if you were," replied Thady, what's the odds? Sure myself 
*ud take yer place, and be married to Kathleen, jist to plaze her, the 
darlint." 

"Married to Kathleen! married to Kathleen !" cried Shamus, in a 
rage. " It's herself wouldn't touch ye's with the tongs." 

Thady bursting out into a loud laugh, cried, 

"Why, Shamus, ye's an unruly baste altogether, and so ye's are ; 
and myself 'ull tell Kathleen of yer pranks, and put off the w r edcling till 
the face of ye's straightened." 

"Botheration to yer jokes, Thady," replied Shamus; "it's always 
plaguing a body ye'd be, and bad luck to ye's for that same. Cannot 
ye's find something to amuse ye bat the breaking of hearts?" 

" The breaking of hearts !" cried Thady. " Come, now, Shamus, it's 
yerself knows very well that hearts never are broken." 

" Hearts never broken !" responded Shamus w r ith astonishment. 
" Ah ! it's yerself knows nothing of the matter. Had ye's seen my 
cousin Burdy Malone after that spalpeen Neal Rourke desarted her — 
how she wandered, lonely and weeping, along the purty walks by 
the river — and how the mait and the drhink grew distasteful — and 
how the colour died away from her cheeks and her lips, and how her 
steps grew feeble and her spirits low — and all the whilst the sweet 
Burdy was sinking to her grave, and she niver one'st to reproach him ; 
and how, at last, she was found dead at the foot of an ould tree 
where he first met her, wid a broken sixpence and a lock of his hair 
in her hand. Sure, Thady, she had a broken heart, any way." 

" That was mighty silly of your cousin Burdy," replied Thady. 
" Sure one man is as good as another, and the market is well 
stocked." 

How far this discourse might have proceeded it was not easy to say, 
nor how long they might have remained standing in that solitary spot, 
had not the aged Priest, who bad hitherto remained quietly listening 
to wmat they said — from what motive I could not judge — called out, 

" Boys, boys ! — is it forgetting yourselves ye are, that ye stand 
prating, and singing, and arguing in this heathen fashion, and only 
just come from burying bodies that sleep in their cold graves ? " 

The Priest evidently knew well the tempers of the men he addressed, 
for in an instant their voices were hushed ; and coming round the 
rocky projection, they stopped a few yards from where we stood, and 
waited with apparent respect for any other remarks his Reverence 
rnmht choose to make. 



JOLLY BOAT. 133 

" Shall we go to the fore ?" asked Thady, when he found the Priest 
did not speak. 

" Do so," replied the old man ; " and tell Larry to have a good fire 
in the parlour. He is sure to have one in the kitchen." 

" It's myself knows that," said Thady ; and touching their hats, he 
and Shamus passed on. 

They had not proceeded, however, but a few yards, when the Priest 
called Thady back, and bade him take the right-hand pass, when they 
came to the " Devil's Glen." 

"The right-hand?" said Thady, with surprise; "sure that is the 
longest way by a mile or more." 

" I know it, Thady," replied the Priest ; " but take it, nevertheless, it 
it is the way we shall come." 

" Yer Reverence knows best," said Thady ; and he went off to join 
Shamus, who was now some twenty or thirty yards in advance. 

"Who is that singular being?" I asked, as he passed out of 
earshot. 

" One of the most harmless creatures alive," said my companion in 
reply ; " whose spirits never seem to fail, and whose good-humour 
never tires. He has many virtues, mixed up with a few vices, and a 
great many oddities ; and as he never does an ill-turn to any one, 
but is ready to do good to every one, he has far more friends than 
enemies, and never wants a meal's meat if there is any to be had in 
the country." 

" Has he, then, no regular employment," I inquired, " that he 
depends on others for support?" 

" He has no employment that can be called regular," answered 
my informant ; " but he is, perhaps, more employed than the generality 
of men about here. Wherever there is something to be done, Thady 
is sure to be there. If a poor widow's garden wants digging — a poor 
man's cabin repairing — a lot of turf cutting, and the like, why who 
but Thady ? And as he never takes any money for his labour, and 
is stronger than most men, you may readily imagine that a few 
potatoes will never be begrudged by any one, and more especially 
because of the fun and good-humour that he spreads through the 
country." 

" You greatly surprise me," I replied, " that such a being can live 
thus in the present day. Is it long since you first knew him?" 

" Ever since I came into the parish," answered the Priest; "but I 
never could learn who his parents were, or found any one that knew 
him otherwise than as he is now." 

" What an odd method he has," I remarked, " of applying the 
sentiments of our songs to matters at such variance with their 
originals." 

" That is an old trick of his," replied the Priest, " and I fancy he 
prides himself not a little upon it. His memory is most retentive, 
and he has contrived to store it with all manner of odd sentimen- 
talities, and broken snatches of songs without number, until scarcely 
a single circumstance can occur, that does not suggest to his teeming 



134 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

fancy some sentiment distorded into shapes the most fantastic and 
ludicrous." 

" I have witnessed one or two specimens already," I replied; " and 
really, from the excellent character you give him, I shall be anxious 
to obtain more." 

" You will be readily gratified," answered the old man, " for Thady 
cannot be quiet for many minutes together. Even now you may hear 
how his wild humour is bursting forth in that merry strain he is 
singing, and ten to one but it changes to something pathetic before 
the second verse is completed." 

As the old Priest remarked, I could hoar Thady thundering away 
at some merry old Irish catch ; and though at too great a distance to 
distinguish the words, there was sufficient in the tones themselves to 
indicate the nature of the song. The deep silence of midnight was 
favourable to the transmission of sounds, but the broken and irregular 
rocks amongst which our path now began to wind, occasioned the 
notes to be varied very strangely, and mingling with the echoes from 
the surrounding hills, formed as curious a medley as can be well 
conceived. All of a sudden, the voice changed from a loud stentorian 
rory-tory character, to one so exceedingly plaintive, that I could not 
believe it to be the same. 

" That is not Thady, surely," I said to the Priest, stopping and 
listening. 

" It is, indeed," he replied, stopping also ; and then, after waiting 
half a minute, he continued, " I think you are right. It is another 
voice, and a female's. Listen." 

We both stood with our heads bent in the direction whence the 
sounds came, and were soon convinced that the Priest's conjecture 
was right, and that a voice of peculiar sweetness had silenced the 
rougher tones of the dwarf Thady. 

"What can this be?" I asked, with some degree of astonish- 
ment. 

^'It is beyond my power to tell," said the old man, evidently as 
much surprised as myself. " Let us proceed." 

We went forward accordingly, and ascended a small eminence, 
over which the path wound ; and on coming to the top, beheld in 
the clear moonlight the figure of the White Lady, on the top of a 
projecting cliff at some distance, waving her hands in a warning 
manner; and singing, as we judged by the sound, something of a 
deprecatory nature. Scarcely, however, had we satisfied ourselves 
on this point, before we heard in the glen below some rapid foot- 
steps approaching towards us ; and in a moment after, Thady and 
Shamus rushed up the hill, breathless, and trembling with fear. 

" What is it ails ye ?" said the Priest, hastily, as if glad to get rid 
of some unpleasant emotions of his own, by fixing an implied re- 
proach on another. 

"Musha, thin," replied Thady, recovering himself; "it's myself 
jist ran to keep Shamus company." 

" And what made you run, Shamus ?" asked the Priest. 



JOLLY BOAT. J35 

" The Banshee ! the Banshee" — replied Shamus, hi3 teeth chatter- 
ing, and his limbs shaking with fear. 

" Where is she?" inquired the Priest. 

Shamus turned round with the intention of showing the place, but 
was struck dumb with the apparition of a figure slowly winding its 
way up the hill, and approaching within a few paces of the spot 
whereon we stood. A moment's consideration on the part of the 
Priest dispelled every supernatural idea, and addressing Shamus, he 
asked, 

" Is this the Banshee that frightened you?" 

"Devil a bit," replied Shamus, suddenly recovering, when he saw 
what it was ; and then checking himself, he said, 

" I ax pardon, yer Reverence ; but the Banshee has bothered me." 

By this time the figure had approached, and the sad and dismal 
tone in which she addressed the Priest, soon banished from our minds 
all idea of the Banshee, and for the time obliterated the interest 
excited by the singular appearance, and still more singular melody, of 
the White Lady on the Cliff, who had, it seemed, disappeared from 
her elevated position, while we were engaged by the hurried approach 
of Thady and Shamus. 

The new-comer was a female, somewhat bowed with age, and 
arrayed in a large dark cloak, with a hood that covered the head. 
Nothing else was visible except her nice, which was dimly lightened 
by the moon, and so far as could be seen, appeared expressive of the 
deepest sorrow. 

"He is dying, your Reverence!" she said, "he is dying; and will 
ye refuse the last hope to a poor soul that is jist trimbling on the 
brink of eternity ? It may be that he has been what he should not 
be — it may be that he has been worse than ye think him — it may be 
that he desarves more nor he suffers— but oh ! yer Reverence, is the 
heart of God harder than the heart of a mother ? and sure, if myself 
can forgive him, and pity him, wid all his faults, will not the God 
of Marcy himself be pitiful ? Come ! oh, come !" she continued, 
" and let him see that there is hope in another world, although, God 
help me, there is none in this." 

Here her grief appeared to choke her utterance, and throwing 
herself at the priest's feet, she clasped his knees, and sobbed as if her 
very heart was breaking. The poor old man was evidently greatly 
distressed. Whatever might be the secret cause of his aversion, it 
was very plain that his better feelings were on the side of the weeping 
female ; and after two or three feeble efforts to remove her, he said, 

" Rise, Magdalen, rise ; I will go see your son, and may the Saints 
be merciful to him !" 

Nothing could exceed the sudden rapture of the poor woman as she 
heard these words. Quitting her grasp, she rose hastily— retired a 
few paces — Hung her hands wildly upwards- — and with the big tears 
glistening on her cheeks, she burst forth in hysterical laughter— 
and cried, 

" The blessing of them that are ready to perish be on thee — and 



136 THE OLD SAILOR S 

may the blessing of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, reward thee ! " 
and then rushing hastily towards him, she cried, " Come — come — 
the taper is wasting — life is ebbing — and the wolf will be after 
his prey ! " 

These last words operated like magic on the Priest. Forgetful, 
apparently, of every thing else but the danger of the dying man, he 
cried, 

" Away ! awaj^ ! " — and hurried down the hill, without regarding 
any of the parties with whom he had hitherto been travelling, as 
though nothing was worthy his consideration but the performance of 
that duty which urged him to snatch the brand out of the fire, 
although it was already burning. For my own part, I was loth 
that the benevolent old man should go by himself on this mysterious 
errand ; and, although I was certain that, as he knew the parties, no 
danger to him need be apprehended, yet the idea of one of his age 
and feebleness being alone, at midnight, in this wild country,- 
operated so forcibly that I resolved to follow, even at the risk of sacri- 
ficing the good opinion he had began to entertain of me. 

" Had we not better accompany his Reverence ? " I asked. It is 
late, and he may need our help." 

" And that's thrue," replied Thady. " Are ye wake, Shamus ? " 
he continued, giving that individual a shake that might have made a 
dead man growl. 

" Awa-a-a-ke," responded Shamus, partly with fear and partly with 
the violent motion occasioned by Thady's emphatic application — 
" Ye-e-es, I is awa-a-a-ke — but it's dead I'll be if you sha-a-ake me 
so unmercifully — so-o-o I will. 

" Let us on, then," I cried, " or we shall not be able to overtake 
the holy father." 

"Away — away !" — shouted Thady ; and as we descended the hill, he 
burst out, at the top of his powerful voice, 

" 'Follow, follow over mountain; 
Follow, follow over sea ; 
And I'll guide you to love's fountain, 
If you'll follow, follow me. 

Follow, follow &c.' - 

As he sung this he strided on at a rapid rate, and was likely 
enough to leave me and Shamus behind him, had it not been for my 
anxiety on account of the old Priest, and the fears of poor Shamus, 
that induced us to exert ourselves to keep up with him. This, how- 
ever, we found no easy task, for the stumpy legs of the dwarf seemed 
to glide over the ground with the greatest rapidity, his voice still 

sounding 

"Follow, follow/' 

until both Shamus and myself were fairly out of breath, and com* 
pelled to halt at some distance in the rear. The place where we 
stopped was singularly wild and romantic. A huge rock, of a 



JOLLY BOAT. 137 

strangely ragged appearance, stood isolated in the very midst of the 
path, and formed a barrier to a strong current of water which rolled 
foaming and furious from the opposite hill ; and after parting with a 
slight stream which wound quietly down an open space of shelving 
rocks, thundered into a gloomy gorge, and was lost in some subter- 
ranean passage below. On either side of this rock the path divided 
into two ; one of which ran towards the more open country, the other 
appeared to wind up a narrow glen, that seemed dark and gloomy with 
impending rocks. 

" Which way shall we take ?" I said, turning to Shamus ; " here 
are two paths, and Thady can neither be seen nor heard." 

" That leads to the Priest's house," said Shamus, pointing to the 
more open path. 

" Then we must take the other," I replied ; " for it is certain the 
Priest would not have hesitated so much had it been near home. Let 
us try this narrow path." 

M Whisht — whisht, yer honour," whispered Shamus, with strong 
emotion ; " that is the Devil's Glyn." 

" And if it be," I replied, " we may surely pass safely when we 
are trying to do good." 

" Oh, thrue — thrue," said Shamus, clinging closer to me, " but it's 
myself 'ud be glad to be safe through it." 

"What do you fear ?" I asked, as we proceeded along the narrow 
gorge, that felt chilly with the dampness of the overhanging rocks. 

"Fe-e-ar," replied Shamus, his teeth chattering? "fe-e-ar — suro 
it's haunted — and — and — " 

"And what, Shamus?" I said, taking hold of him. 

" Och! murther, murther" he roared out, believing some fiend had 
grasped him ; and before I could restore his confidence by assurances 
of safety, we were both startled by a tremendous roar from a hollow 
cave just before us, and it was some moments before I could make 
out that it was Thady, singing 

"King Death was a rare old fellow, 

He sate where no sun could shine, 
And he lifted his hand so yellow 
And poured his coal-black wine, 
Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah, for the coal-black wine. M 

The situation he had chosen apparently pleased him highly, for h© 
had no sooner finished the stanza, than he burst out into a laugh that 
seemed literally to shake the rocks, and waked up many a wild echo, 
as if the glen was peopled by so many merry fiends. 

" Is this the way you guide your friends, Thady ?" I asked, when 
his laughter ceased. " If you leave us in this way, his Reverence is 
likely to help himself, for all the good we can do him." 

" All in good time," answered Thady, coming forward ; " it's not 
in the journey there that he'll need us, God bless him. 

"Will he need us on his return?" I asked — a sudden suspicion 
darting through my mind; but to this Thady made no direct reply, 
but stumped up the rocky path, singing, 
18 



138 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

" ' Had I a heart for falsehood framed, 
I ne'er could injure you ; 
For though your tongue no promise cla'mcJ, 
Your charms would make me true.' " 

Finding I could get no information from Thady, and that Shamus 
was too oppressed with his fears to notice anything I said, there ap- 
peared no alternative but to follow our eccentric guide ; and certainly, 
if any one was ever qualified for that office, Thady displayed it in 
perfection. Each difficult pass was carefully avoided ; every sudden 
turn seemed anticipated, and a tolerably easy road discovered, where 
a stranger would have found it impossible to proceed. At one time 
we traversed the side of a steep rock, where a fall would have been 
instant destruction ; at another we passed, by a natural bridge which 
shook with our weight, over a foaming torrent that roared below, like 
a fiend ravenous for prey ; then, again, we threaded a precipitous 
and ragged path, from whence we descended abruptly into a narrow 
defile, where the overhanging rocks shut out all view of the sky, and 
left us involved in the very blackness of darkness. The excessive 
dreariness of our position in this strange midnight journey, began to 
have its effect on my feelings ; and recollecting the superstitious 
nature of the inhabitants, I was not surprised at the fears of Shamus 
as we passed through the Devil's Glen, for I began to entertain that 
uncomfortable sensation which arises from the dread of dangers that 
we can neither see nor avoid, and was heartily wishful to emerge from 
this type of the bottomless pit ; when Thady, who seemed to have a 
most singular fund of apt associations, started loudly into the following 
strange ditty, which affected me more powerfully on account of the 
situation in which we were at the time : — 

" Ha ! ha ! ha ! what a pleasant night is this I 
The stars are all a bed, 
The silly moon is dead, 
The sky is black as pitch, 
The hedge is like the ditch, 
A sheet of heavy fog 
Is spread along the bog, 
And the wolf cannot see the precipice. 

IIu ! ha ! ha ! what jolly fun for 

To sport on the black pool's brink, 
"Where the blind worm crawls, 
Where the old toad sprawls, 
Where the black newt feeds 
On the cold dank weeds,. 
And the tadpole swims 
Round the dead child's limbs : 
What jolly fun for me, 
The traveller to see, 

In the slimy water sink. 

Ha ! ha ! ha ! what a merry, merry thing 'twill be, 

To flash about his eyes, 

To mock him when he cries, 

And laughing when he tries 

From the cold wave to rise, 

To plague him till he dies. 
Oh ! this is the sport for me — ha ! ha ! 
Oh ! this is the sport for me. 



JOLLY BOAT. 139 

Ha ! ha ! ha ! what jovial sport I see : 

His wife is at the door, 

And looks across the moor, 
And hopes he will soon return ; 

His little hoy up-stairs 

Is saying all his prayers, 
And the fire doth cheerfully hum.. 

At the door let her stay, 

And the little boy pray, 
Yet what are their prayers to m* ? 
Ha ! ha ! — oh, what are their prayers lo me ? 

By the blasted tree 

On the lonely hoath, 
"Where the raging sea 

Rolls dark beneath, 
1 have led him along to the cave of death. 

The gibbet is there, 

"With its white bones bare, 

The eyeless bare skull 

Of strange light is full, 

The chattering teeth 

Gape wide beneath, 

"While the fleshless jaw • 

Roars ha ! ha ! ha ! 
And rattles apace for want of breath, 

Ha! ha! ha! Ha! ha! ha! 
And rattles apace fcr want of breath." 

While Thady was tearing away, at the very top of his lungs, and 
amusing himself with the wild and uncouth legend above, we had 
proceeded more than half through this dreary cavern ; and on turning 
a little to the left, I could see a faint gleam of pale moonlight at some 
distance before us, which was certainly the most welcome sight I had 
witnessed on this remarkable evening. As we approached within fifty 
or sixty yards of the open moonlight, and I was congratulating myself 
on the prospect, a figure shot suddenly from one side of the rock before 
us, and darted rapidly from the mouth of the cave. I pointed it out to 
Thady, and asked, 

"Who can that be?" I 

" Jist one of the boys warming himself wid exercise," said Thady; 
"and faith it's myself 'ud like to do that same." 

" Have we far to go," I inquired, " before we find the Priest?" 
" It's hard to say," answered Thady ; " but if he's at Mother Hoola- 
ghan's, why it's jist convanient." 

What Thady might intend by this latter expression it was not eisy 
for me to guess, for I had heard the term used with such extreme 
latitude, that it might signify we were near the place, or ten or twenty 
miles off; and as I could not shorten the way by the most accurate 
information, I pursued the inquiry no further, but kept Thady on at 
a pretty brisk pace, in the hope of seeing the individual whose hasty 
flight from the cave had somewhat alarmed me. In this I was dis- 
appointed ; for on emerging from the dark and narrow path, and coming 
to the top of the hill, nothing human was visible to break the deep 
tranquillity which reigned around, where the bright moonlight was 
sleeping in placid beauty on the tops of the rocks, or dancing in broken 
fragments on the ripling stream. 



140 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

A few hundred yards before us appeared a sort of cabin, from whence 
a white smoke was rising, and from the smell of the turf-smoke, I 
judged it to be a human habitation. Hoping this was the end of our 
journey, I turned to Thady, and said, 

" Is that Mother Hoolaghan's before us ? " 

" The same," replied Thady ; " and his Riverence is there, for I 
hear him. Whisht ! " he continued, " he is praying." 

This was true ; for on stopping to listen where we now stood, I 
could hear the clear tones of the old man's voice, interrupted now and 
then by the loud groans of a man, or the deep wail of a woman. 

" Had we better wait here ? " I inquired of Thady, " or shall we go 
in ? " 

" His Riverence may need us," said Thady ; " we had betther 
go in." 

When we came to the door the Priest's voice had ceased, and only 
a suppressed moaning could be heard. Ceremony would have been 
out of place here ; and as the door was partially open, we entered the 
hut, and found the Priest, with the old woman who had met us at the 
mouth of the glen, standing beside a straw pallet, on which was laid 
the body of a wounded man. The strong light from the turf fire 
gleamed strangely on the pallid face of the dying man, and threw fitful 
rays on the ragged walls and naked rafters of this miserable dwelling, 
while the motionless figure of the poor woman, bowed in the deepest 
grief, contrasting with the placid dignity of the Priest, assisted to form 
a group of the most striking character. 

" I am glad you are come," said the Priest ; " for Tim has things to 
say that must be heard by more ears than mine." 

A deep groan burst from the wounded man. 

" Whisht," said Thady, whose quick ears detected the slightest 
sound : " there's more listeners than is bargain'd for." 

As he said this, he pointed to the door ; and I caught a momentary 
glance of the figure of a man, as he started from a listening attitude 
and immediately disappeared. 



CHAPTER IX. 



The suspicious behaviour of the individual at the door" excited, as 
maybe imagined, some uneasy emotions in my mind, coupled, as it 
necessarily was, with the recollection of a similar appearance in the 
dark cave, and the sort of implied danger in Thady's remark, that 
the Priest would not need our help in his journey to the sick — leaving 
the inference open, that he might do so on his return from Hoolaghan's. 
Besides this, there was reason to suppose that the individual on his 
death-bed was one of the ruffians engaged in the attack on the Pontoon, 
and had, in all probability, received the wound of which he was dying, 
from the hand of Feargus or his wife. If, then, I said to myself, this 



JOLLY BOAT. 141 

conjecture is right, this is no doubt one of his accomplices who is 
fearful of being implicated by the confession of the dying man, and 
rather than compromise his own safety, would freely shed the blood of 
another. Added to this, there still exists the original cause which 
prompted the deadly attack on the friendly roof of Feargus ; and 
whatever that might be, it would now, in all likelihood, be greatly 
increased by the suspicions of increasing danger. 

These reflections passed rapidly through my mind immediately 
on the man's disappearance, and I could not help looking forward 
to some sudden and desperate attack on my person, as being the 
most likely result of the position in which I was placed ; when the 
thought suddenly occurred, that, as I was dressed similar to the 
peasantry of this part of the country, it was possible they might not 
suspect me ; and to favour this hope as much as possible, I hastily 
put the old hat on my head, and buttoned the loose great-coat up 
close to my chin ; at the same time turning my back towards the 
fire, so as to exclude every known chance of a discovery. After all, 
these precautions could have been of little service, since my speech 
must have betrayed me ; and the parties, whoever they were, had too 
much at stake to be misled by such clumsy efforts at concealment, and 
were, in all probability, as well acquainted with my movements as I 
was myself. 

On arriving at this conclusion, I beckoned the old Priest, and 
stepping outside the door, related in as few words as I could, the 
events of the last two nights and days, commencing with the appear- 
ance of the young girl, and ending with the sudden apparition of the 
man at the door. 

" And now," I said in conclusion, " what does your Reverence 
think ? You are well acquainted with the people amongst whom you 
dwell — I am a stranger. What I have done to provoke hostility 
is a mystery ; for, with the single exception of my vain attempt to 
rescue the young lady from the hands of her oppressors, in everything 
else I have been quite passive. What does it all mean ? What is it 
they can want?" 

" Blood ! blood !" thundered a voice from behind the shed ; and in 
the same instant a gun was fired, and the shot whistled within an inch 
of my head, and tore away the upper portion of the hat. For a 
moment I was stunned with the sound, and before I had well recovered, 
the intended assassin bounded across the road, and was lost in the 
shadows of the surrounding rocks. 

In the meantime heavy groans were heard inside the cabin, and 
Thady, running hastily out, cried, 

"Tim's dying, yer Riverence. Lave the spalpeen to me" — and he 
sprang down the hill with the agility of a fawn, and instantly vanished. 

" Are you hurt ? " inquired the Priest, in a tremulous and feeling 
tone. 

" Not," I replied, " that I know of. Part of the hat is gone — the 
head is safe." 

" Praise Heaven I " exclaimed the old man, devoutly crossing 



142 *IIE old sailor's 

himself, and with a feeling of gratitude in which I had good reason to 
join, without noticing at that stirring moment the dilference in our 
creeds. 

"Had you not better see this unfortunate man?" I asked, his 
groans becoming more awful, and mingled at times with a sort of 
howl, as if his agony was beyond endurance. 

"You must see him too," answered the Priest, "and hear him as 
well as I, for his tale is too dark to be heard by any one alone." 

" What is he?" I asked, in a stifled whisper ; for the old man's 
words had created a strange feeling, that crept with the chilliness of ice 
along my frame. 

" He is" — said the Priest in a similar tone — "he is — a spy and a 

MURDERER." 

A wild shriek burst from the hut — so loud and piercing, that it 
seemed to ring through my ears, and produced a mixed sensation of 
giddiness and pain that did not leave me for some time. On entering 
the room, both the woman and her son were insensible ; he having 
fainted through excessive pain, and his mother believing him dying, 
and yet unforgiven, had fallen into hysterics through excessive 
emotion. As they lay thus extended on the floor of their miserable 
dwelling, for the moment insensible, I could not help reflecting how 
much better it would be for both, if neither should awake to conscious- 
ness again. To her it would prove a respite from a world of sorrow and 
of shame ; and though she herself had nothing to afflict her conscience, 
yet with the strong feelings of a mother, how must her heart be torn 
with the horrid guilt of her abandoned and only son, whose profligate 
career was thus brought to a bloody end. To him, indeed, it would be 
but a slight relief, for his hours were evidently numbered ; and though 
he might thus avoid a few of these corporeal pangs which had been 
but the smallest portion of his pain, yet the deeper and more abiding 
agony of a guilty spirit would not subside in the grave, or be hushed 
when the body ceased to groan. The consolations of religion had 
been offered ; but the tremendous tumult of a dying hour is not 
favourable to that change in which religion consists, and without 
which all hope is extinguished, and extinguished for ever. 

Be the advantages, however, of passing away in this state of 
insensibility what they might, it was not so ordered. They both 
recovered — not at the same time ; for the wretched man, opening his 
eyes, stared wildly for a moment at the fire ; and then clenching his 
fists and grinding his teeth, he cried with the wild fierceness of 
despair, 

"Avaunt — avaunt — I will not go! Down divil, down — I will not 
go — avaunt — avaunt ! " and then bursting into a hideous laugh of 
mockery and derision, he cried, 

" Ha ! ha ! ha ! see how his face blackens — awry with him — away 
with him — ha ! ha ! ha ! " — and grinning with malignant triumph, he 
sunk back on the straw, and chuckled with fiendish joy. 

The fearful glimmering which these expressions afforded of the 
awful state of his mind, left little room to hope that cny thing tho 




X\iSt2fi»^" 



y 4xO£ 0/ $6M?. 



JOLLY BOAT. H3 

Priest could say or do, would be of the slightest avail to the dying 
man. He might, indeed, have gone through some of those forms 
prescribed by the church for persons in this condition; but he 
appeared too conscientious to scatter the precious consolations of Chris- 
tianity, where the essential pre-requisite of penitence was so manifestly 
wanting. As he stood gazing on the wounded wretch, who lay writh- 
ing at his feet, the full light of the blazing fire fell on his face, which 
exhibited the varying and powerful emotions that were contending in 
his mind. At one time, he appeared to experience the deepest loathing 
and abhorrence ; and then the emotions of pity and commiseration 
made his muscles slightly quiver, while a tear stole glistening down 
his cheek. He then turned his eyes upwards, and for a few seconds 
seemed lost in mental devotion, after which his countenance assumed 
the steady and resolved cast of a man determined to do his duty. 

As this expression settled over the Priest's face, a wild howl burst 
from the lips of the wounded man ; and as if the cry had power to wake 
the dead, the poor woman opened her eyes, and after staring uncon- 
sciously for half a minute, she rose hastily from the floor, and rushing 
to the head of her son, she raised him from the ground, placed his head 
on her lap, and gazed on his pallid face with an expression of the 
greatest solicitude and affection. 

" Magdalen," said the Priest, his voice slightly faltering, as he 
noticed the poor creature's tenderness, " I can do no good here. Tim 
confesses not — nor does he repent ; and the Church will not show her 
mercy where it is not sought. I must go." 

" Oh ! no, no, no," cried the afflicted mother ; " go not yet — sure 
while there is life there is hope — and God is long- suffering as well 
as marciful. Oh ! go not yet ; sure the thief was saved on the cross, 
and why not Tim ? And he will confess — won't you, Tim ? " she 
continued, looking down beseechingly on the face of her son. " Won't 
you confess to his Riverence, and get a pardon before you go hence ? " 

As she spoke thus, the tears fell fast and thick on the face of the 
dying man, and appeared to awaken emotions very different to those 
he had lately exhibited ; for ceasing to writhe and twist with internal 
anguish, he suddenly lay still, and looking up in her face, he said, 

"Mother, I can't — I can"t, mother — it would kill us both." 

" And if it does, darlint," replied the mother soothingly, " sure it's 
betther to kill the body than to lose the sowl. But Tim," she con- 
tinued, " who knows but confession may save both sowl and body 
also?" 

" Oh, neither — neither," said the man, relapsing into indifference ; 
" they cannot save us, and I won't — I won't." 

The poor woman wrung her hands in agony, as if the hardened 
condition of her son's mind affected her beyond the sufferings of his 
body ; and laying his head from her lap, she retired to a coiner of the 
hut, and began to pray most fervently in behalf of her wretched off- 
spring. The intense grief of the poor woman appeared to affect 
the old Priest, for stepping across the hut, he took her hand, and 
raising her from the floor, he said. 



144 THE OLD SAILOBS 

" Leave hirn to me, Magdalen ; leave him to me, and I trust the 
Saints will yet be merciful. Shamus will go with you to the top of the 
hill, and bid Ned Rooney come here. Say Father Doherty wants him, 
and he'll come with you," 

Magdalen rose at the bidding of the Priest, and pulled the hood of 
her cloak about her head. She stood for half a minute gazing earnestly 
on her son ; then casting one hasty glance upwards, she turned towards 
the door, and in company with Shamus left the cabin, 
i As soon as they were gone, the Priest went to the door, and cau- 
tiously shot the wooden bolt that was designed to fasten it ; and after 
making it thus secure, he beckoned me closer to the bed, and stooping 
over the impenitent sinner, he said, 
• " Tim — the boys are gone home." 

If a red-hot iron had been thrust into his body, he could not have 
started with greater alertness ; his eyes suddenly became keen — his 
face eager — and raising himself on one elbow, he asked, in a deep 
whisper, 

" Were the red-coats in time — eh ! were they in time ? " 

"No," said the Priest, in the same sort of confidential low tone; 
•* the nest was empty — " 

" Empty — empty" — said the man, with a vacant stare — " how 
could that be ? Sure the time was fixed, and they're not slow to the 
work." 

" But the boys got frightened," answered the Priest ; " the hat of a 
Saxon fell from the rock, and they ran away." 

" The Saxon — the Saxon," he cried, evincing all the symptoms of 
his former eagerness; " w r ho, who was it — who was it?" he continued 
urgently, as if it excited an interest superior to the pain he felt, and 
the wretched circumstances in which he was placed. 

" Merely a stranger," replied the Priest, " who was stopping at the 
Pontoon." 

" The Pontoon !" shrieked the man with a momentary expression of 
fear, which instantly gave way to the fellest hate, as his brow darkened 
to a scowl, and his bushy eyebrows became knit together. 

The old Priest appeared to watch these fluctuations of feeling with 
great earnestness ; and as he was evidently bent on drawing more 
information from the man than he seemed willing to give, he chose the 
most suitable opportunity of dropping scattered hints, as the occasion 
offered. 

" There is a rumour," said the Priest, " that the Pontoon was 
burnt." 

" Burnt — burnt !" cried the man ; " when — when ? " — he gasped, 
and his eyes appeared starting from his head. 

" The night before last," answered the Priest. 

His countenance fell, and sinking heavily on the straw, he growled, 

" False — false as hell ? " and he lay still and sullen, as if absorbed 
in the bitterness of his own dark thoughts. 

These slight and disjointed expressions seemed to intimate very 
clearly that his knowledge of the outrage on the Pontoon was quite as 



JOLLY LOAT. 145 

great as his unwillingness to disclose it ; and the whole skill of the old 
Priest, and his accurate estimate of character, were necessary, before 
the guilty wretch could be brought to confess the share he had in that 
diabolical transaction. For this purpose he appeared not to notice 
Tim's last remark, but said, 

" O'Connor knows the White Boys, and the soldiers are after them. 
Where was it ye got wounded, Tim ? " 

A deep groan was the only reply, and a heavy gasping of the breath 
suec£ i eded, as if the last struggle was taking place. 

" lira, said the Priest, " it's dying you are, and what's to become of 
the blood-money?" 

'•Who's that?" said Tim; and starting up, and staring wildly 
round the hut, his dark eyes shining like lighted coals from the livid 
paleness of his sunken cheeks — "Who's that?" he repeated more 
earnestly ; and then sinking his voice to a whisper, he asked, 

" Is it the Steward ?" 

" Hush !" slightly whispered the Priest. 

"Ye's are long a-coming," replied Tim, in the same low, cautious 
tone. 

" Hush !" again whispered the Priest. 

" Where is Father Tom ?" said the dying man, whose sight was 
evidently so dim that he could have no clear perception of surrounding 
objects, and whose excited fancy made him liable to the delusions of 
his own brain, which was now so disordered, that he could not dis- 
tinguish between outward signs and the suggestions of his disturbed 
intellect. 

" After the wench," he said, as if replying to another person ; 
"divil burn him for a fool. He'll ruin us all. Where is she 
now ? " 

After this he lay still for a few moments, and appeared as if listening 
earnestly to the unreal being his fancy had conjured before him; 
and then suddenly bursting into a coarse, loud laugh, he con- 
tinued for some time to chuckle with apparent glee, and every now 
and then to indulge in repeated explosions of laughter. At length, 
subsiding into a calmer state, he said, 

" And the Lady Anne pitched him from the ould window. Faith, 
bud she's a girl of spirit, and good luck to her. And what did Father 
James say to it, yer honour ? " 

He again appeared as if listening, after which he replied, 

" Oh, aye — Father James regards nothing but the honour of the 
Church, as he calls it, and he'd desave the divil, his own father, if good 
might come from it ; " and he laughed again, as a man would laugh 
delighted with his own wit. 

These broken expressions, which might have been regarded as the 
wanderings of a disordered mind, were to me matters of the deepest 
interest, as they appeared to convey some slight and fearful intimations 
of the fate of that lovely girl with whom my present fortunes were so 
intimately connected ; but judging their character must be offensive to 
the aged Priest, I suppressed a portion of my own curiosity, and, with 
19 



146 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

a view (o break the thread of the man's unhallowed thoughts, I 
stepped forward and said, 

" Can you tell us where the lady is confined ? " 

It was very singular to remark the instantaneous change that came 
over him. The coarse, jocular expression gave place to a mixed dis- 
play of hate and fear, coupled with a slight air of affected indifference, 
as he said, 

"Was it a lady ye's was axing after?" 

" Yes," I replied ; " the Lady Anne." 

He was framing his lips to reply, when a sudden paroxysm of pain 
came over him, and straining and writhing in dreadful anguish, his 
face blackened, and his eyes appeared as if starting from his head. 
The most frightful oaths were mingled with howls and groans almost 
too painful to be endured, in which he appeared to be contending not 
only with his own conscience, but a host of fiends bodily present, and 
there came out a succession of dreadful secrets, of the most revolting 
character. It would not accord with my views of propriety to write 
down all he uttered, nor could I have gathered half the meaning of 
what he said, but for the interjectional explanations of the old Priest. 
From these it appeared, that he had long played the double part of an 
instigator of violence, and a secret spy and informer to the Government 
of the day. This fearful state of mental and bodily agony lasted for 
some minutes. At length he burst into a laugh of derision, and 
pointing with his finger, he exclaimed, 

" There — there — they have it now — they have it now ; down wid 
cm — down wid em — huzza — huzza ! " 

Then suddenly changing to a look of horror, he shrunk back, 
shrivelled himself up, gasped for breath, and appeared anxious to 
shroud himself from the approach of some dreadful vision. The cold 
sweat-drops hung large and heavy, the contortions of his frame showed 
the most intense agony, and thrusting out his hand while averting his 
head, he shrieked, 

"Avaunt! avaunt ! Why are ye here? — away — away — it was 
Murdoch that stabbed her— not I — not I." And burying his head 
in the straw, he continued to thrust and wave with his hand, as if 
anxious to keep away something that pressed too closely upon him. 

The fearful strife that was carrying away his last remaining bcrength, 
was not witnessed by Father Doherty without great emotion. He 
appeared to feel the utter hopelessness of Hoolaghan's condition, and 
as I thought, with a mixture of bitter regret that his spiritual functions 
were without avail. He appeared to know many points of his history, 
and, as I afterwards found, the wild and disjointed expressions that fell 
from him in the course of his mortal struggle, afforded him a full clue 
to the dreadful career he had run. Now and then an occasional 
observation of the Priest aroused the half-delirious being from an 
abstracted stupor, and led him to utter many a dark intimation of 
desperate and diabolical deeds in which he had been engaged. 

After this painful exhibition had continued for some time, the 
wearied and wounded body appeared to sink under the fierce conten- 



JOLLY BOAT. 147 

tion of the mind, and, after faintly and feebly gasping several times, 
he fell back on the straw, and lay as motionless as a corpse. The head 
dropped on one side ; the mouth opened ; the half-shut eyes seemed 
glazed and dim, and, to all appearance, the dark struggle was over. 

" He is gone at last, "I remarked ; " may God have mercy on him !" 

" Amen ! " replied the Priest, at the same time devoutly crossing 
himself. 

" He must have had a heavy load on his conscience," I continued, 
" for his last thoughts were full of violence and blood." 

"They were indeed," said Father Doherty; '•and yet not more 
bloody than his life. He has played the double villain — a chief 
perpetrator of every outrage, and at the same time in the pay of 
Government, as a secret spy and informer. My information before 
was pretty correct, and his expressions to-night confirm it's truth. I 
am convinced that he has been the most active agent in eighteen 
different murders." 

" That's false ! " said Hoolaghan, springing up fiercely, his black 
eyes gleaming with the ferocity of a wolf. " It's only fifteen that I 
touched myself, and four were half-done when I seed 'em." 

" But you fired Rooney's cabin when the child was asleep," said the 
Priest. 

"He desarved it — the thief — he desarved it!" said Hoolaghan, 
fiercely. 

" And old Murphy's daughter," continued the Priest. 

*' She fell in the wather herself," replied Tim. 

" But it was to avoid you — was it not ? " said Father Doherty. 

" She was a fool," replied Hoolaghan. 

" And poor old Sullivan, what had he done? " asked the Priest. 

" Ax the Steward," said Tim. 

" And it was yourself broke into Lady Anne's chamber, and gagged 
her," continued the Priest. 

" Who told you that ? " asked Tim. " Was it Father Tom ? eh ? 
Was it Father Tom ? " he continued, in a whisper. 

" Father Tom," replied the Priest ; and this was spoken in such a 
"way, as it might either pass for an affirmative or an interrogatory. It 
appeared that Tim understood it in the former sense, for assuming a 
fierce expression, he exclaimed, 

" The villain ! — sure himself helped me, and he held the door whilst 
I bore her out — the villain ! " 

" And was Father James there? " asked the Priest. 

" Myself niver seed him," said Tim. 

" Where is the Lady Anne ? " I inquired, impatient to learn her 
fate. 

" You have spoiled all," said the Priest, impatiently. 

It was true. Tim changed his looks; all his habitual caution 
seemed roused, and relapsing into apathy, he sunk again on the straw, 
and appeared insensible to every thing around him. 

" 1 crave pardon, your Reverence," I said ; " pray excuse me — it 
was not intentional." 



143 THE OLD SA1L0H~'3 

*' Nay," said the Priest, recovering his placidity, " there is no need 
of this. It was to satisfy you that I questioned him ; but it's all over 
now — he will not speak again." 

I could scarcely understand this ; the Priest, however, was better 
acquainted with such scenes than myself, and had observed some- 
thing about Hoolaghan that I had not noticed. A minute afterwards 
I was awakened to the truth — the man was dying ; his limbs were 
gathered up and contracted ; his face became sharpened and thin ; 
the eyes rolled fearfully ; a deep rattling was in the throat ; and 
after making one or two desperate efforts to rise, he fell back with 
an agonizing howl, and convulsively shooting out his limbs, he 
shuddered with a chilly expression of cold, and settled into the still- 
ness of death. 

In this instance there was no mistake — Tim was dead. The hue of 
life was rapidly lost ; a ghastly expression came over the corpse, and 
he lay a loathsome and abhorrent spectacle, over whom none would 
mourn, save the lonely mother. 

" It is over now," said Father Doherty — " let us hide him from 
view — and may the Father of Mercies hide his iniquities for ever. 
Amen." 

As he said this, he pulled an old cloak over the dead man's face, 
and, walking to the fire, he stirred the dying embers, which revived 
into a momentary flame, and then subsided into a glow of burning 
red. 

" Even so," said the Priest — " the dead shall revive ; but woe to him 
who shall be doomed in judgment to the fire that is not quenched, and 
the worm that never dies." 

As he said this, a wild cry was heard, apparently at some distance, 
and yet so fearful as to command immediate attention. Both the 
Priest and myself were at once arrested by the sound, and looking 
anxiously to the door, I exclaimed, 

" What can that mean r " 

" Hark !" said the Priest, in a deep whisper. 

We both stretched to listen ; for a moment all was silent. A 
solitary cricket chirped feebly on the hearth, and we both started. 

" Hush ! " said the priest. 

Another terrific shriek was heard, much nearer than before, and 
unbolting the door, we went outside the cabin, and were just in time 
to witness a scene of the most painful kind, The full moon was 
shining bright and clear ; on the rock opposite the house, which was 
steep, ragged and lofty, were two figures — in an instant I could 
recognise Thady for one ; the other had a white shirt outside his other 
garments ; they had evidently been struggling, and the man in white 
was close to the precipitous edge of the rock. 

" Yield and confess — yield and confess ! " shouted a voice I knew 
at once to be Thady's ; and I could see him flourish a musket, with 
the butt-end lifted, ready to strike. 

" I will — I will ! " — shrieked the other, close on the verge of the 
tremendous declivity. 




' , 



JOLLY BOAT. 349 

" Quick ! quick ! " shouted Thady, 

"For Tim is on the wing.*' 

A pistol flashed fire ; the bullet whizzed through the air, ana Thady 
cried, 

" Ye's a baste, and no man — divil burn ye ; " and in a moment we 
saw the miscreant lifted in the air, and dashed over the side of the rock; 
he rolled headlong down its face, and fell heavily to the ground, where 
he lay groaning and moaning, as if life was nearly extinct. 



CHAPTER X. 



" What is that you are doing, Thady?" shouted the Priest, after the 
momentary shock was over, occasioned by the dreadful fall of the 
unhappy wretch. 

44 Giving the divil his due, yer Riverence," replied Thady ; " for sure 
be owns the black sheep, and I would be loath to cheat him out of hi3 
property." 

44 Wretched man !" ejaculated the old Priest in great agitation, " how 
dare you send a soul to its long home before his Maker has called him ? 
Come down, and tell me who he is." 

" I'll be wid ye immediately," replied Thady ; " but pray be aisy till 
I see if the big baste has any more pistols." 

A heavy groan from the bottom of the rock seemed to intimate that 
all danger from that quarter was over for the present ; and Thady, by 
some means known only to himself, glided down the surface of the 
precipice, and in a minute afterwards called out, 

'■ The dog's teeth are all drawn, yer Riverence, and he wants ye's 
here in great haste intirely." 

"Let us see this unhappy creature," said the Priest, taking my 
arm ; " he lives, perhaps ; and while there is life, there is hope." 

We descended to the foot of the rock, where the miserable wretch 
1 y groaning, apparently in great pain. 

" Where are you hurt? " inquired the Priest, stooping down, and 
examining the recumbent body. 

44 My heart ! my heart ! " groaned the poor fellow. 

" Are your limbs whole ? — are any of your bones broken ? " asked 
the old man anxiously. 

44 Oh! my heart! my heart!" again groaned the sufferer, more 
deeply than before. 

44 It must be an internal injury," said the Priest, turning to me, 
44 for his limbs are all safe, and the bones are all whole." 

" Oh ! my heart ! my heart ! " mourned the poor creature, and ho 
appeared to be oppressed with intolerable pain. 



150 THE OLD SAILOS'S 

44 Who is it, Thady ? " asked his Reverence; " and where did you 
find him?" 

Thady had been looking on attentively, and watching, with great 
apparent anxiety, the movements of the Priest, 

" It's Ned Brallaghan," he said; " and I found him in the ould cave 
in the Divil's Glyn." 

" And what brought ye to the top of the rock ? " asked the Priest. 

" He tould me a lie, and wanted to bother me," replied Thady. 

44 And why did you throw him down? " inquired the old man. 

44 By rason o' the pistol, yer Riverence," replied Thady. " He 
promised to surrinder and confess, and then he outs with the bulldog 
and snaps at me. Bad luck to him — he should hev stuck to the shillelagh 
— so he should." 

" My heart — my heart ! " feebly moaned the wounded man ; and, 
judging from the tone, that he was growing weaker, and would 
probably soon cease to live, I suggested the propriety of trying to 
obtain some information on the mysterious subjects which surrounded 
ns, before life was wholly withdrawn. 

" You are right — you are right," said the Priest ; " the time is 
short, and there is much to do." 

He stooped down by the side of the wounded man, and taking hold 
of his hand, he said, 

" Ned Brallaghan — your minutes are numbered — have you any 
thing to say to the Priest before you die ? " 

A deep groan was the only reply. 

44 Is it with blood on your hands ye would go down to the grave, 
Ned ? " asked the old Priest, solemnly. 

44 My heart — my heart — oh ! my heart " — responded the dying 
man. 

" Was ye near Tim Hoolaghan's ? " continued the Priest. 

44 It was himself that was trying to kill the Saxon, then," said 
Thady ; " and sure the gun was warm when I cotched him." 

44 Trying to kill me," I said ; 44 what would he kill me for ? " 

44 What was it ye wanted to kill the Saxon for?" asked the Priest. 

44 He was a spy," said the man sulkily. 

44 A spy ! " cried the Priest ; 44 Who told you he was a spy ?" 

44 Tim — Tim Hoolaghan," said the man, 

44 Tim deceived you then, Ned," replied the Priest; 44 it was himself 
that was a spy and informer both." 

" Tim ! Tim an informer ! " said Ned, striving to raise himself; but 
the effort was too much for his exhausted strength, and he fell heavily 
down, and groaned with a bitter groan, faintly articulating, 

44 Impossible !" 

44 It's as true as yon moon is in Heaven," said the Priest solemnly. 

44 Thin he's a bigger villain than the divil," said Ned; "and may 
the big divil eat him !" 

44 He is beyond your curses now," said the old man ; 44 let the dead 
sleep — and if ye'd go to a better place, make haste and repent, for 
it's not long the life will be in you." 



JOLLY BOAT. 151 

«* Oil! my heart — my heart ! " groaned the suffering creature ; " my 
heart — my heart — and Tim a spy ! " 

" Yes," said the Priest ; " and he had sold the boys in the valley 
beyond the Pontoon, to the soldiers." 

" Oh, the villain ! the big villain !" said Ned, with mingled pain and 
indignation. " It's myself 'ull tell all — all — all," he continued, as if 
pursuing some internal course of thought ; and then faintly beckoning 
to the Priest, he said— 

"'Will yer Riverence pray for me? Is there any hope of marcy ? 
Will the Vargin be pitiful, yer Riverence? Will she be pitiful ?" 

"If ye confess and repent, Ned," answered the old man with deep 
solemnity — "if ye confess and repent, ye shall find mercy." 

Ned burst into a flood of tears — he sobbed hysterically ; now and 
then the pain he was suffering forced a deep groan, but suppressing 
this, he continued to sob and weep with excessive emotion. At length 
growing more calm, he said, 

" Mine is a bloody tale, yer Riverence — mine is a bloody tale ; 
but listen. I was onst a dacent boy, and barring the folly o' youth, 
quite innocent— but the drhink, yer Riverence — it was the drhink 
that ruined me ; for I lost my place by rason o' the whiskey, and 
then the money was wanted, and Tim tould me how to git money, 
and the drhink was more plintiful, and blood was nothin when the 
money and drhink was wanting. Yer Riverence has heard o' the 
great fire near Bauagher — the ould house was burned down to the 
ground, and may be ye'll have heard how all the family was burned 
to cinders — but ye's will not have heard that they were all killed 
before the house was fired, and that the plate and the cash was taken 
— but it's thrue, though — for myself and Tim and the boys that were 
berrid the night at the ould Abbey, and two or three more, were 
there for hours before — and sure we ate up the vittals, and drhank 
the drhink, and the dead bodies beside us all the time — and may be 
the gashes in their throats, and the cuts in their breasts, were no 
sport to us ; bud, yer Riverence, it's all thrue — the old man and 
his wife, and the three daughters, aud the young child — Tim tould 
us to do for 'em all. And then the O'Neils — the man and his wife, 
and they jist married — and the young cratur put herself forrud to 
be killed first, and axed us to spare her husband — and one dagger was 
enough for both. Bud, yer Riverence, it's one tale all over — we did 
not mind the life when the money was to the fore — myself has done 
more nor twelve, and Tim planned it all. Will the Vargin be 
marciful, yer Riverence ? Will she ? " 

" It's confessing you are, Ned, not repenting," said the Priest. 

" Och ! but myself 'ull repint directly," said Ned. " Will the 
Vargin be marciful ? " 

" What made ye attack the Pontoon? " inquired the Priest. 

" Sure the Englisher had loads of baggage," replied the man ; "and 
Tim said he'd be easily done for, and the lake was convanient ; and 
besides — " 

" Besides what? " said the Priest. 



152 THE OLD SAILORS 

1 

" Father Tom said he was a meddling heretic," replied Ned, " and 
he interfered with the lady at Cliff Abbey." 

" What lady ? " asked the Priest anxiously. 

His question was too late ; the man sunk suddenly down, put hi3 
hand to his side, and gasping faintly " My heart — my heart!" shot Cfcut 
his limbs convulsively, and immediately expired. 

" The divil has him, yer Riverence ; the divil has him," shouted 
Thady ; " and may he not repint of his bargin." 

" Hush ! " said the old Priest sternly — M such matters are too awful 
for jesting." 

Thady appeared to feel the rebuke, for turning away from the dead 
body, he muttered, 

" The ould-un is right — may the Vargin keep us." 

My own feelings at the time, as may be readily supposed, were 
of a very painful character ; for, in addition to the solemnity created 
by witnessing two such deaths, and under circumstances of such 
painful interest personally, there was the cruel disappointment of 
knowing that each of these persons was able to have explained the 
mystery hanging over the fate of the Lady Anne, and probably to 
have suggested the means of her deliverance. Now it was all dark : 
we had heard enough to convince us of her danger ; we had learned 
that she was the victim of some black and desperate scheme ; but 
where she was — who were her enemies — what object they had in 
view — and what were the fittest means to aid her — we could not tell. 
In proportion as the interest I took in her welfare increased, the 
deeper was my disappointment when I found that all avenue to 
superior knowledge was now effectually and for ever closed. They 
both had been instruments in effecting her captivity — either could 
have given the clue to her prison ; and now both were shut up in 
the silence of death, and neither hint nor discovery could be obtained 
fur ever. 

" It is a dark tale," I exclaimed with a sigh, " and no one can solve 
the mystery." 

" Be not too sure of that," said a soft musical voice immediately 
above us ; and lifting up our heads, we beheld the dim and shadowy 
form of the White Lady, floating, as it were, in the mouth of a cave 
which opened in the front of the rock, and receding into its depths till 
no longer visible, we heard her sing, in tones that had no similitude to 
an earthly voice, 

" When night grows most dreary, 

Then daylight is near ; 
When the foot grows most weary, 

Then rest is more dear ; 
There is light on the mountain, 

There's hope on the way, 
There is life in the fountain, 

And joy in the day." 

What these words might mean, we could not tell. The sudden 
appearance of this mysterious being ; the interest she appeared to 
take in these singular events j the unearthly attributes of her form 



JOLLY BOAT. 15b 

and movements, and the wild and exquisite strains she uttered — all 
conspired to throw us into a state of doubt, fear, and amazement. 
The old Priest was as much at a loss, apparently, as myself ; what- 
ever might be the convictions of his reason, it was evident that he 
felt some degree of terror ; and both of us found how much easier it 
is to satisfy our reason of the fallacy of supernatural appearances 
by day, than it is by night ; and that, although probably neither the 
Priest nor myself could have been brought to admit the existence of 
a visible disembodied spirit, yet the tremulous vibrations of our 
nerves, under these unaccountable circumstances, would leave us no 
room to vaunt ourselves for too much courage in such encounters. 

"Again" — I exclaimed — "she is there again. What can it mean?" 

" Let us trust in Heaven," replied the old Priest, evidently moved, 
and affected beyond his wont — "let us trust in Heaven, and Heaven 
will protect all who trust therein." 

Sympathising, in a great degree, with the old man's feelings, I 
stood still for a few moments, absorbed in thought on this strange 
appearance, wdien Thady, whose hearing and sight seemed far beyond 
mine, exclaimed, 

" It's a goodly company we'll have soon — they are coming thick 
and threefold." 

" Who are coming?" asked the Priest. 

" Oh, it's ounly jist a pair and a half," replied Thady, " and it's on 
the top of the hill they are." 

We turned to look in the direction he pointed, and I could just 
dimly descry some objects moving in the distance ; but who or what 
they were, it was impossible to say. 

" By dad," exclaimed Thady, laughing, " bud it's ounly Shamus and 
mother Hoolaghan along wid her next-door neighbour, and myself 
thought it a dozen or more." 

As Thady surmised, the parties, who now approached, proved to be 
the widow Hoolaghan and Shamus, along with the man required by 
the Priest. With a feeling of marked delicacy towards the childless 
mother, he stepped forward to meet her, and thus prevented the dis- 
tressing view of the dead body at the foot of the rock. 

" Is that you, Rooney ? " asked the Priest. 

"The same, yer Eiverence," replied the man. 

" Thady wants your help," continued the Priest, as he motioned him 
to pass, at the same time taking my arm and walking towards the hut, 
where we were followed by its wretched inmate, to find man's last 
enemy in full triumph over her still more wretched son. 

" Magdalen," said the old Priest, and his voice slightly faltered as 
He spoke, "he sleeps the last sleep. May the Lord have mercy 
upon him !" 

" Did he confess, yer Riverence — did he confess ? " inquired the 
poor woman with great anxiety — " and did ye's give him the parting 
blessing ? " 

The old Priest was about to reply, but was prevented by the pas- 
sionate grief of Magdalen as she came in view of the dead body of 
20 



154 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

her son. Forgetful of every consideration beside, all the strong 
feelings of the mother rushed over her heart ; and regardless of our 
presence, she gave way to the wild grief which overwhelmed her 
spirit, and flinging her aged and emaciated body on the yet warm 
corpse, she embraced and kissed it with the most ardent affection. 
She then laid her face for a minute or two on his cl eek, and then 
again passionately kissed him ; then stretching herself to her arms' 
length from him, she gazed with the most earnest expression 01 his 
face, as if unconscious of his death ; and in a minute or two afterwards, 
as the dreadful reality broke upon her mind, she uttered a wild scream, 
that pierced our ears like the expiring agony of a breaking heart, and 
fell motionless on the body. 

" Nature has given way at last," said the old Priest with affecting 
solemnity. " In the midst of life, we are in death. May God be 
merciful to her departing soul ! " 

The poor woman slowly raised her head, turned a thankful eye on 
the Priest, smiled with peculiar satisfaction, and dropping slowly 
down, gave up her spirit into the hands of her Creator. 

" She has gained the haven," said the old man with a feeling of 
placid exultation. " Many a rude storm has she weathered, but her 
end is peace." 

He stood gazing for a few moments on the inanimate bodies, 
then lifting his eyes upwards, appeared engaged in mental devotion ; 
and as the ruddy light from the fire fell on his fine features, he 
looked like one of those saintly forms which some of the old painters 
have delighted to portray, and which make us forget the distinctions 
of creeds, in that genuine piety which shines superior to them all. 

After waiting a few minutes in respectful silence, I stepped to the 
door, and observing Tiiady approaching, in company with the strange 
man, I asked, 

" What place was it the man named where the Lady Anne is 
confined?" 

" True, true," said the Priest hastily ; " I had forgotten that. We 
must see to the Lady Anne. Thacly," he continued, coming to the 
door, " was it Cliff Abbey the man spoke of? " 

" Jist that same," replied Thady; " and a purty habitation it is for 
a could morning." 

" I am afraid the Lady Anne is confined there, however," said the 
Priest. 

" The Lady Anne ! " cried Shamus, coming forward — " Anne of 
Minister ! The Saints be gud to us ; for it's well at home she was six 
days agone, when myself seed her — the darlint — as she spoke kindly to 
Kathleen — God bless her!" 

" There has been foul play since then," replied the Priest; " and the 
jaen who have died to-night took her forcibly from home." 

"The Vargin pity her poor mother thin ! " said Shamus, very feel- 
ingly ; " for her life was tied up in the Lady Anne." 

'-The life had left her before," said Thady; " and it was from her 
mother's could grave they tore her." 



JOLLY BOAT. 155 

"Dead?" said the old Priest with astonishment; "dead — is the 
Lady of Minister dead ? " 

" Myself saw the hearse," replied Thady. 

A painful silence ensued, in which the legend of the White Lady 
of the Cliff rose vividly to my mind, and the singular apparition I 
had witnessed so many times, appeared most mysteriously connected 
with the recent events ; and in that lonely country, in the immediate 
vicinity of the dead, and at the still hour of night, some vague and 
indistinct apprehensions stole across the mind concerning the ghostly 
nature of that singular vision. The Priest was evidently ruminating 
in a similar train ; his eye for a moment rested on mine, and I could 
observe the strange and doubtful traces of his troubled thoughts. 
After a few minutes had elapsed, he said in a firm voice, 

" We must try to aid this unfortunate lady. Her life is in peril, 
and to-morrow may be too late." 

As the Priest uttered these words, our attention was aroused by 
the same soft, musical voice that we had heard before, and the dim 
outline of this strange figure appeared floating near the mouth of a 
cave, half-way up the perpendicular rock. The words were evidently 
designed as a reply to what the Priest had said ; they ran thus ;— - 

** This, this is the hour : 

The chosen of fate : 
When daylight gains power, 

All help is too late. 
The wolf is abroad, 

And hath scented the prey ; 
Is the shepherd at hand 

That should fright him away ? 
There's a cloud on the moon, 

And a light on the bill : 
Let vengeance come so> n, 

Or for ever lie still." 

The latter part of these words fell faintly on the ear, the figure 
receding at the same time ; and as the Hst sounds died away, nothing 
could be seen in the deep darkness ( \ the cave's mouth. All was 
blank to the eye ; all was silent to the ^ ): ; a cloud had obscured the 
fair face of the moon ; and turning round, we beheld, on a distant 
eminence, a bright frame suddenly rising, that was strangely in unison 
with the mysterious words of the White Lady. 

" What can all this mean ? " I asked, as soon as the momentary 
surprise had subsided. 

" Mean ! " said the Priest ; " it means that the shepherd must lock 
after the wolf. Let us up, and away." 

The path we pursued led directly away from the Devil's Glen, and 
after ascending for half a mile or more, dropped suddenly down into a 
narrow gorge between two lofty mountains, composed chiefly of shaggy 
and irregular rock. The ground was boggy and soft, and every now 
and then tottered and shook as we passed along. More than once 
or twice had Thady to shout lustily in order to keep us in the proper 
Uack ; and it was wonderful to observe the twists and turns he 
made to avoid the dangerous places. Every inch of it seemed to 



156 THE OLD SAILOH'S 

be well Known to him, but a lone stranger must certainly have 
perished. 

In the course of half an hour we had passed the bog, and winding 
by a zigzag path over one shoulder of the farther mountain, we came 
in view of a distant lake, the surface of which appeared broken by 
many pointed rocks, rising like the spires of an inundated city. Our 
path ran straight for some time in the direction of the lake, and then 
wound away to the right, where some rocky projections hid it from our 
view. After another half hour's walking, we again approacheu the 
lake, and this time were close by it. The same singular character 
prevailed, and in many places the rocks rose to the height, and were of 
the dimensions of a large cathedral : some spiral and thin, others 
round and bulky ; others, again, were largest at the top, and supported 
on columns apparently too feeble to sustain the load. One of the 
latter description was very remarkable ; its ponderous head was not 
only vastly disproportioned to the pillar on which it stood, but the 
whole mass was lying on one side, as if it had been suddenly arrested 
by the power of magic when in the act of falling. 

' " That is a most singular rock," I remarked, at the same time 
stopping, and turning to the Priest. 

" Singular on more accounts than one," replied the old man. " It 
is called the ' Lady's Cliff ; ' and it was on that very rock the lady 
appeared, after being thrown in the water by her brutal husband." 

As he said these words we both stood facing the rock, and were 
startled by the sudden apparition of the same mysterious figure, whose 
history seemed so strangely identified with this desolate cliff. 

" Holy Mother of God!" said the old Priest, greatly affected; "have 
mercy upon us — have mercy upon us ! " 

" Can it be flesh and blood ?" I exclaimed, no less astonished ; " or 
is it really a being of another world, made palpable to our sense? " 

" Oh musha, thin, yer honour," cried Shamus, " bud it's the White 
Lady herself, and had luck 'uli follow." 

"Where is she gone?" I cried, looking again at the rock, which 
was now as naked and tenantless as when we first came near it. " la 
there some internal passage, or has she 

1 Melted into thin air.' " 

" Let us not pry too curiously," replied the old Priest, "but take the 
path of duty, and trust for protection in Him who is all powerful." 

" Are we far from Cliff Abbey ? " I inquired. 

" It is there, on the hill before us," replied the old man. 

"Let us leave the spirit, or whatever it is, then," I said, "and try 
what we can do for the Lady Anne, if she is yet alive." 

This suggestion quickened the pace of the aged Priest. Whenever 
any point of benevolence connected with his calling crossed his mind, 
it seemed to give a double impulse to his exertions, and the elasticity 
of youth to his frame. He walked with great briskness along the 
narrow path which skirted the water, descended the hill, and began to 
ascend the opposite side, and then stopping suddenly, he cried, " What 
has become of Thady ? " 



JOLLY BOAT. 157 

" Thady ! " I replied — looking round in every direction—" is he not 
on before ? " 

" He maybe," said the old man, " but I cannot see him ; and we 
are now within half a mile of the Abbey, and are likely enough to 
need his assistance." 

" Do you anticipate violence ? " I inquired, regretting having left 
the fire-arms belonging to Erallaghan at the foot of the rock where 
he fell. 

" There has been too much display already," said the Priest, " to 
allow us to hope otherwise now." 

"If we had Brallaghan's gun," I said, "we might have a better 
chance of enforcing our way." 

" It is better as it is," replied the old man ; " the sight of those 
weapons often provokes violence, and would be a poor protection 
against others who are more accustomed to use them. I would rather 
have Thady than ten muskets." 

" Is it not singular he should leave us just now ? " I asked. 

" It is," replied the Priest; "but all his actions are singular, and 
his motives are different to those of other men." 

We were now threading a narrow path, that led along an ancient 
watercourse ; here and there were huge blocks of stone, that appeared 
partially worn aw T ay by the strong currents that had swept past 
them ; hollow places were filled with loose, smooth pebbles, and 
again the hard, bare rock presented a level surface to our feet. As 
we drew nearer to the top of the hill, w r e could observe the ragged 
outline of the old Abbey, standing out in a dark mass against the 
moon-lit sky, relieved here and there by patches of light where the 
walls or windows had given way to the ravages of time, and forming 
a grand and imposing picture, calculated to fill the mind with 
admiration and awe. It stood on the top of a bold rock, and its outer 
walls extended to the very edge of the cliff, which descended nearly 
perpendicular to the waters of the lake, and as I could easily see, had 
obtained its designation of " Cliff Abbey" from the singular position 
in which it vas placed. 

"Is the place uninhabited?" I asked, perceiving it more ruinous 
than I had at first imagined. 

" Not wholly so," said the Priest ; " although its appearance would 
lead to such a conjecture. It was once a very flourishing place," 
continued the old man with a sigh, " but it is long since ; and for 
many, many years, its old walls have been gradually sinking to* decay. 
About thirty years ago an attempt was made to fit up some part of it 
for a community of Nuns, but the authorities were jealous, and 
intimated their displeasure. What was done, was done therefore 
privately, and with the connivance of some friendly Magistrates in the 
neighbourhood ; but it was too limited for service, and too narrowly 
watched to extend. Six or eight sisters found a dreary refuge in the 
old walls, and a portion of them remained alive till within a very short 
period. I have not lately been this way, and cannot say exactly 
whether any of them are now living. About six months ago two onty 



158 THE OLD SAILOll's 

remained, the one becl-ridden and blind, and the other scarcely able to 
move with paralysis and old age." 

" It is a melancholy picture," I replied; "and they are nice com- 
panions for the young and beautiful Lady Anne." 

" If they are the worst," said the old man thoughtfully, " she will 
not sustain much harm, I wish Thady was here," he continued ; " his 
knowledge of the localities would greatly serve us, and besides he 
might be allowed to enter, where other men dare not look." 

** Regret is useless," I remarked, as we came close up to the old gate 
of the Abbey, which was stuck in the face of the solid rock, and 
appeared to lead, by a subterranean passage, to the platform on the clilf 
where the Abbey stood. 

" It is, indeed," said the old Priest, with a sigh ; "since it always 
comes too late, and rarely makes us wiser for the future." 

As the old man's tones died tremulously away, we stood still before 
the entrance of this dreary place, and the deep silence of night was 
unbroken by any sound of living thing. The low, moaning sighs of the 
wind swept feebly past the old walls, and, to a fanciful mind, might be 
supposed to be mourning the progress of decay. The murmuring 
voice of the restless waves, as they broke on the beach below, came 
stealthily up the hill, and created a melancholy feeling that crept 
coldly over the frame. 

" What shall we do ? " I asked softly, as the old Priest seemed lost 
in thought. " Shall we rouse the inmates to open the gate, or is there 
any other entrance besides the one before us? " 

" I know of no other entrance than this," he replied, " and no other 
way than to knock at the door. Our motives are pure — our designs 
are good — -what or whom should we fear ? In the name of Heaven, 
knock." 

The command of the old man was speedily obeyed. The ponderous 
iron knocker, rusted over and half decayed, fell heavily against the old 
gates, and waked up the echoes far and wide, which appeared to> 
answer each other amongst the distant hills, and then died away into a 
silence deeper than before. We waited, anxiously listening ; but there 
was no response — no sound of approaching footsteps — no voice 
demanding " Who's there ?" All seemed silent and dreary as if we 
were standing at the gates of the grave. 

"Try again," said the Priest. 

Both Shamus and I seized the ponderous knocker, and uniting our 
strength we gave a succession of powerful blows, that were loud enough 
to have wakened the seven sleepers. But the sleepers within were nol 
awakened ; or, if awake, they took no notice of our violent appeal for 
admission. 

"It is useless knocking," I said, after waiting two or three minute* 
* we had better try and force the door." 

" A useless labour," said the old man ; " the strength of ten men 
could not disturb these massy gates." 

As he said these words, he put out his hands as if to feel the strength 
of the door, when, greatly to our surprise, the huge frame work 



JOLLY BOAT. 159 

yielded to his feeble touch, and gradually opening to either side, left 
the dark passage through the rock without obstruction. 

The old man stepped back as the gates gave way, evidently alarmed, 
end fearful of some act of treachery. 

" Who is there?" he exclaimed, with a slight tremor in his voice, 
that betrayed the inward agitation of his mind, There was no 
response — all was still and silent as death ; the massy gates lay back 
against the sides of the rock, and there was neither voice nor footstep, 
nor the sound of breath. We looked at each other with mutual 
surprise ; poor Shamus shook from h?ad to foot, and with chattering 
teeth ejaculated, 

" We'll all be kilt intirely, and it's speechless I am wid fear." 

" So it would seem," I said, forcing a laugh ; " but, come, let us 
explore the passage that is now open before us." 

"•Even so," said the old Priest, recovering his wonted composure, 
and taking my hand. We passed the gates, and followed by the 
affrighted Shamus, entered the gloomy gateway through the rock. 
When we had proceeded a few yards, I perceived the ground to be 
gradually rising, and as it wound considerably to the right, we soon 
lost sight of the gateway, and were wrapped in total darkness. It was 
owing also to the circuituous winding of the path, that there was no 
appearance of light at the farther end ; and whatever contrivances 
might formerly have existed for remedying this defect, nothing was 
now perceptible in the deep darkness which filled this gloomy road. 
Not a word was uttered as we passed slowly on — the sound of our 
footsteps making a kind of whispering echo, that smote painfully on 
the ear — and more than once the long-held breath of Shamus broke 
forth with the loudness of an audible voice, and startled us with the 
apprehension of a secret foe. 

After the lapse of some minutes, and on turning rather sharply to 
the left, we suddenly came in view of a rugged archway, through 
which the moon was brightly shining, but the lower part was 
obstructed with gates similar to those we had left at the entrance 
below. 

" Will these open as easily as the last ?" I said, doubtfully. 

" We shall soon see," replied the old man, as he stepped forward to 
repeat the former experiment ; but finding they would not stir, he 
exclaimed, 

"This is worse than our former obstruction, and our labour is all 
in vain." 

" Let me try," I said, stepping forward, an 1 putting my shoulder to 
the gate, endeavoured to force it open ; but in vain. The heavy gate 
would not move, but seemed as firm as the solid rock to which it was 
attached. 

" What shall we do now ?" I inquired, desisting from the vain 
attempt. 

"Hark!" said the Priest, lifting up his hand, with the forefinger 
extended. 

At this instant a loud clap like thunder rolled up "the cave, and 



160 THE old sailor's 

was succeeded by a roar of laughter as loud and dissonant. The 
sound of rapid footsteps was immediately heard ; and before we had 
recovered from our surprise, up rushed Thady, laughing and shouting. 

" Father Tom has got the sack — Father Tom has got the sack— 
and bad luck to him for iver." 

" What mean you ?" said the Priest, becoming suddenly composed 
when he found it was Thady. " What mean you by Father Tom? who 
is he ? and why did you leave us?" 

" Soft and aisy, yer Riverence — soft and aisy," replied Thady ; 
" and we'll jist go and take a peep of the dirty scoundrel from the top 
of the cliff." 

" But how shall we pass the gates ? " asked the Priest. " They are 
fastened on the other side, and we cannot move them." 

" Good rason," said Thady, " or the wolf had been in." 

As he said this, he ran up the gate like a cat, and creeping through 
a hole in the rock, at the side, in a moment afterwards dropped down 
beyond it, and withdrawing the bolts, gave us a free passage to 
the top of the rock, where the heavy walls of the half-ruinous Abbey 
rose darkly against the sky, and seemed to frown in sullen majesty on 
the scene below. 

" This way, yer Riverence, this way," cried Thady ; and lit us see 
how the wolf looks whin he cannot git into the fould." 

We followed Thady by a narrow path, that ran winding and 
twisting along the edge of the rock, until we came to a part of the cliff 
which overlooked the entrance ; and on arriving there, beheld two 
men, muffled in long coats, vainly endeavouring to force open the 
ponderous gates. 

" Is it trying to warm yerselves ye's are after? " cried Thady, in a 
tone of derision. "Faith, ye may save the labour, for it's warm enough 
ye'll both be by-and-bye, whin the ould-un gits hould of ye's." 

" He'll have hold of you first," said a deep voice from one of the men 
below, which reminded me of the younger Priest I had first seen a few 
days before ; and as he spoke, his arm was raised towards us, and a 
pistol snapped, but flashed in the pan. 

" Back," said Thady to us, '• and I" 11 tache him manners.'* 

We shrunk back accordingly, and Thady skipped over the rock, 
and in a minute afterwards roiled down a huge and irregular frag- 
ment, that thundered and smoked as it rolled along, capable of 
crushing twenty men. A tremendous crash was heard as it fell ; 
and again looking towards the gates, we beheld the two figures 
running hastily down the hill, as if a legion of fiends were in full cry 
after them. 

" May the devil take the hindermost," said Thady, jumping from the 
rock, and laughing ; '' but he's sure of 'em both, and so he's in no 
hurry to fetch 'em." 

" Hush, Thady," said the Priest; "you are too free with matters 
that do not belong to you." 

" Why sure, yer Riverence," replied Thady, " there can be no harm 
in spaking thruth, any way." 



JOLLY EOAT. 1G1 

" It will depend on the motive with which it was spoken," said the 
Priest ; " but who are the men you have frightened away ? " 

" Myself knows one," said Thady, " and guesses the other." 

" Who is the one you know? " asked the Priest. 

" Father Tom, of Ballyrogue," replied Thady. 

" And the other you guess at?" pursued the Priest; but before 
Thady could reply, the figure of a man was observed creeping stealthily 
along the farther wall, and evidently trying to gain an entrance to the 
Abbey unobserved. 

"The beach! the beach!" shouted Thady, and he sprang off in the 
same direction with the agility of a greyhound, and rounded the corner 
in pursuit of the intruder. 

As we lost sight of them behind the building, the poor old Priest 
shook with emotion ; these rapid transitions and sudden excitements 
appeared too much for his feeble frame, and fearing he would be 
injured by longer exposure, I suggested the propriety of seeking the 
interior. 

"It is of no use," said the Priest, somewhat peevishly, " unless 
Thady were with us. What can have become of him ?" he continued, 
looking round ; " will he never be back ?" 

" Can we not find the Lady Anne ?" I asked, anxious to awaken 
his former interest, and to divert him from his present desponding 
feelings. 

" No, we cannot," he replied rather sharply ; and then immedi- 
ately recollecting himself, he said, " We cannot find her, I fear, with- 
out Thady's assistance." 

" Let us seek him then," I said ; " he cannot be far off, and the 
time is precious." 

As I said this, we turned round the corner of tho buttressed wall, 
and came into a part of the building where two wings ran out at a 
considerable distance, and formed a sort of square recess between 
them. In the centre of this recess we found Thady kneeling on the 
prostrate body of the man he had chased, and busily engaged in fas- 
tening his limbs with a rope. 

"What is that you are after, Thady?" said the Priest, as we 
approached. 

" Jist taching him to lie still till I wants him, yer Hiverence," 
replied Thady ; " it's a long pair of legs he has of his own, and I 
won't take leg-bail from him for the next half hour." ^ ; 

" What was he doing here, Thady?" asked the Priest. 

" May be he'll spake for himself," replied Thady, rising ; having 
now finished his task, and made the poor fellow as fast as if fettered 
in iron. 

" Who are you ?" asked the Priest ; " and what brought you here ?" 

The man returned no answer. 

" W r ill you reply ?" continued the Priest ; " it may be all the bettet 
for you." 

Still no answer was returned, and the Priest turning round to mo 
observed, 

21 



162 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

« 

" Here is another specimen of the Hoolaghan breed. Let us leave 
him to repent of his folly ; and now, Thady," he continued, " how shall 
Ave find this unfortunate lady ? " 

" By a secret passage through the wall, at the foot of the left- 
hand stair," said a soft, sweet voice, above us ; and looking up, we 
beheld the dim outline of a female face, at a small loop-hole in the wall. 

"It is the Lady Anne — it is the Lady Anne !" shouted Shamus, 
leaping and capering with joy, and dancing about half frantic with 
delight ; in which I felt half inclined to join, so much was I rejoiced 
to find her still alive, after the heavy and painful doubts I had experi- 
enced on her account. The poor old Priest appeared equally 
pleased, and in his usual way offered a fervent ejaculation of praise 
for this happy event ; while Thady burst out into one of his wild 
strains, and at the very top of his voice roared out, without regard- 
ing the time, 

" ' Is there a heart that never loved ? 
Nor felt a woman's sigh ? 
Is there a man can mark, unmoved, 
Dear woman's tearful eye ?' 

Myself 'ud bate the life out of him if he did," continued Thady; 
" and Shamus, sure ye's be afther kissing Kathleen the morn's 
morrow." 

" Oh! wereasthrue," replied Shamus; " she'll think me kilt intirely 
— but the Lady Anne 'ull make it right." 

"Aye, true, true, the Lady Anne," said the Priest; "the Lady 
Anne. Thady, can you find the passage?" 

Thady had apparently got into one of his singing fits, for withont 
■replying to the Priest directly, he sang, 

" ' I'm the finest guide that ever you see : 
I know every place of curiosity 
From Ballinafad to Tanderagee, 
And if you're for sport, come along wid me.' " 

He moved as he sang, and leading the way, entered the walls of the 
Abbey through a low door, which was nearly concealed in one of the 
huge buttresses in the corner ; and still singing as he went on, as if 
to let us know the way he was going, he opened first one door, and 
then another, and ascending by a narrow, winding stair, he brought us 
at length to a low gallery which ran along one side of the pile, and 
was lighted by narrow apertures through the carved stone-work of the 
old windows. 

At the farther end of this gallery was a door, strongly bolted on the 
outer side, and studded with iron knobs, as if designed as a place of 
confinement. There was no difficulty in shooting the bolts, and with 
a mixture of feelings not easily described, I stood ready to enter the 
apartment where the fair young girl was confined. 

" Will you go first?" I said to the Priest, at the same time stepping 
deferentially back. 

" The shepherd should care for the lambs of his flock," said the old 
man, " and I will pass on in the name of the Most High ! " 




Vs/l-UZ/t t r : t", .. ■ ,/v/V' 



JOLLY BOAT. 163 

lie opened the door and entered. With emotions of a very powerful 
kind, I followed, and Thady and Shamus brought up the rear. 

The room was large and lofty ; stone arches ran along the top, and 
the walls were of the same strong material, A rude pallet bed was at 
the farther end, at the foot of which was placed a small crucifix. Two 
or three rudely-shaped chairs stood about the floor, and an iron lamp 
was burning on a small bracket in the wall. The lovely inmate of this 
dreary apartment had risen from her chair, and was just in the act of 
returning thanks for her deliverance, when a part of the solid wall 
appeared to open, and the same tall figure in white, that we had seen 
so often, glided into the room, and stood within a few yards of the 
Lady Anne. For half a minute the latter appeared sinking with 
terror — then suddenly changing her looks to the most animated expres- 
sion of delight, she rushed forward, and flinging her arms round the 
figure in white, she exclaimed, 

" My mother 1 oh, my dearest mother ! " and sank delighted on her 
breast, 



1G4 THE OLD SATLOR'S 



HARRY PAULET. 



AN HISTORICAL SKETCH. 



CHAPTER I. 



« 'Twcre a concealment 
Worse than a thief, no less than a tradueetnent, 
To hide your doings, and to silence that, 
Which to the spire and top of praises couch'd, 
Would seem but modest." 

Shakespeahe. 

About a century ago, the suburbs of the English metropolis presented 
to the eye a rural simplicity and beauty, that offered a striking and 
remarkable contrast to the business-portion of the vast city, with its 
spired churches, and gorgeous palaces ; large tracts of land close upon 
the borders of London were occupied by humble cottages, standing in 
the midst of blooming gardens, each spot being self-appropriated by 
the occupiers, without leave or license from the proprietors of the soil, 
who, in most instances, however, exacted a ground rent from the 
tenants ; and the number of " squatters " who thus raised the edifice 
and cultivated the plot of land, equalled that which was to be found in 
the New Western World some years after its discovery ; and I much 
question whether considerable portions of the earth's surface, on which 
now appear the handsome villa, or elegant mansions, were not claimed 
as " rightful property," by the descendants of those who had so uncer- 
moniously pitched their tents under the ninth point of the law — pos- 
session. 

At that period, the worthy citizens were content to slumber in their 
city dwellings, and thought not of magnificent squares or country 
houses as the places of their abiding ; modern luxuries had not then 
become a mania, though innovations were gradually creeping over 
the state of society, as commerce grew more and more diffused and 
extended, and the wealth of the country increased with its speculative 
industry. Nor was this simple mode of living confined to the shop- 
keepers alone ; for even the rich merchants resided in their city man- 
sions, such as to this day may be seen in different parts of London, 
with their flights of stone steps in front, and spacious marble stairs in 
the interior ; grand pillared entrances, noble apartments, and dining 
rooms, resembling more the hall of some public institution, than the 
feasting-place of a private individual. Here the mirth and the revelry 
of the good old times once abounded — the masque, the pageant, and 
the ball ; each citizen vieing with the other in the splendour of their 
entertainments. 



JOLLY BOAT. 165 

But to what base uses may we come at last. These buildings arc 
no longer the abodes of the wealthy ; they are converted into ware- 
houses for home and foreign produce, and there is an air of mournful 
grandeur about them, calculated to excite a melancholy feeling in 
the mind of the casual observer. Many of these mansions may be 
seen in the neighbourhood of Upper and Lower Thames-street — 
generally in court-yards — as things of former days, retiring from the 
gaze of the public eye. 

The shopkeeper of this period kept to his boutique night and day, 
and was ever ready for business ; no horse, or gig, or phseton was then 
brought to the door to carry the tradesman each evening to his country 
house, some miles distant from the sound of Bow bells ; but with his 
three-cornered hat upon his head, silver buckles in his shoes, and 
golden-headed cane, the extent of his occasional exercise was a 
summer ramble to some favourite place of resort, a short walk on 
either side of the Thames, strolling through plantations of fruits and 
flowers, with a happy independence, for he had paid his coin at the 
" Halfpenny Hatch," to enjoy the privilege. From Bermondsey 
to Lambeth, from Hammersmith circling round to Poplar, the cordon 
of cottage-gardens was drawn ; and there are some few individuals yet 
living, who can well remember them before the hand of improvement 
swept nearly the whole away, and except the spaces devoted to horti- 
culture for the London markets, all has been filled up with the hand- 
some and princely dwellings, covering the earth, and towering into 
the air, in numbers of which families are crowded together according 
to their means, and " male and female after their kind," on the 
several floors which wealth or poverty compels them to inhabit. The 
only residue of the old system is to be found on the Chalk Road, 
Pentonville, between King's Cross and the New Model Prison ; 
between the latter building and Holloway, and a few straggling build- 
ings about Islington. The outskirts of Bermondsey also still retain 
their primitive character — there is a halfpenny hatch leading from 
Deptford Lower Road to the East Country Dock ; but I have no doubt 
these will yield before many years have expired, to the rage for bricks 
and mortar, as it has become a prevalent fashion for London to go 
out of town.* 

Who can tell me where Pedlar's Acre is situated , with the excep- 
tion of those who are residing in the immediate locality, I believe 
there are but few who could answer that question, for its very name 
is changed to the Belvidere and York Roads, and there is not more 
than two or three now living on the spot, who can remember it fifty 
years ago, as it then appeared, covered with lovely gardens, and blos- 
soming luxuriantly as Eden. 

Previously to the erection of Westminster Bridge, the river was 
crossed by ferry from Whitehall Stairs, on the London Side, to the 
King's Arms Stairs, Pedlar's Acre, on the South wark side ; and after 
passing from the wharfs at the latter place through College-street 

* Had our author lived to usher this edition of his work before the world, he would 
have seen the greater psst of his predictions verified. 



166 THE OLD SAILORS 

(which in many parts still retains its primitive character), a halfpenny 
hatch, branched off in different directions towards Lambeth or New- 
ington, or the Great Kent Road, shortening the distance to the foot 
passenger, and during three parts of the year affording delightful 
recreation to all who loved to witness the bounteousness of nature in 
repaying the toil of man. 

The several paths led through well cultivated grounds, divided into 
small portions, each containing its cottage structure, and all more or 
less ornamented and embellished according to the neatness, taste, or 
outre display of the various occupants. More than one had their outer 
walls covered with oyster shells, some were castellated, with mimic 
tower and turret, others were gaily stained with mingling colours of 
pink, and blue, and green, and red ; but the principal number presented 
a lovely picture of simplicity mantled with flowers. 

The entrance to these paths was singularly pretty — a barrier of wood 
work was thrown across — stout and substantial to the height of three 
feet, then surmounted by strong railings six feet higher, through which 
the jasmine had twined its manifold embraces, so as to mask the 
interior from view. In the middle of this barrier was a gateway, the 
door of which was divided horizontally in two, the upper half being 
kept open during the day, the lower half closed-to, and only swinging 
on its hinges to those who dropped their halfpence as they passed, 
into the hand of a hearty, sturdy old porter, who sat in a little snug 
lodge by the way-side to receive the proffered coin and the good 
wishes of the donor. 

The cottage of this Cerberus was the first that met the eye ; it was of a 
superior construction to most of the rest, and consisted of four com- 
fortable rooms, with an outbuilding for culinary purposes, all on the 
same floor ; a trellis-work covered the front, on which was thickly 
intermingled the spreading creepers of the clematis with the wanton 
branches of white and red rose trees, whilst the ivy, rising from the 
rear of the building, fantastically extended its evergreen leaves over 
every other part, even to the summit of the roof. The garden had been 
much larger than it then was, for a part of it was separated from the 
rest, and a small dwelling erected within its bounds, the rental of 
which served to increase the weekly stipend of the collector-general of 
tolls. His own immediate garden was tastefully laid out, and there 
was an air of neatness about it that plainly evidenced the careful 
labour of diligent hands: the hedges were nicely cut; the fruit trees 
well arranged ; the horticultural department was free from weeds ; and 
the flower beds glowed with the rainbow dyes of richest beauty. But 
there was also another peculiarity in high contrast to the rest, and 
which at once manifested a strong partiality for matters connected 
with a maritime life. A flag-staff, composed of lower roast and top- 
mast nicely rigged, with the appropriate yards across squared to an 
exact parallel, reared its lofty trunk by one corner of the dwelling, and 
from which, on the anniversary of sea fights, or state occasions, a union 
jack floated as proudly in the breeze, as if hoisted at the main of a 
three-decker, carrying the admiral of England— at least so said the 



JOLLY BOAT. 167 

neighbours, for they had never seen a display of the latter. A three- 
pounder gun on a carriage all ship-shape, was mounted on each side of 
the cottage doorway; but the truth must be told, that old age had 
brought on infirmities that rendered them incapable of performing the 
functions for which they were originally designed, though this was 
kept a profound secret from the world, as both old and young un- 
practised in such affairs, firmly believed that they were constantly 
kept loaded with real gunpowder and iron bullets, to defend the half- 
penny treasury of the collector. 

At the termination of the middle walk of the garden, seen through a 
vista of gooseberry bushes and currant trees, stood a figure of Hope 
leaning on her anchor ; the ancient ornament of some vessel's prow, 
which in former times had dashed through the foaming billows, and 
constantly exposed alike to burning sun or chilling storm, that had 
left a ruddy glow of health on the richly bronzed features of the goddess. 
Her's was no pale-faced sentimentality, sickly with apprehension ; 
there was nothing that Byron calls "bilious and interesting" in her 
look — No ! there were full laughter-loving blue eyes, red cheeks, ruby 
lips in a broad grin, and auburn hair, in some places approaching to a 
sea-green, that descended over blushing shoulders and a lovely bosom, 
one -half of which, however, was concealed by blue drapery, fringed 
with gold descending to the feet, but looped up above the left knee, so 
as to display a handsome leg, with a capacious calf, and instep, and 
ankle to correspond, giving the beholder an idea of stability and firm- 
ness, and a pretty well proportioned foot, with five nicely turned toes 
as smooth as alabaster and untroubled by a single corn or bunion. The 
"fair-eyed" inspirer of mankind was pedestalled on a diminutive 
capstan ; a most happy and philosophical association, forming a poetical 
group, for what to the seaman's eye can portray the 

" promised pleasure, 
And bid tlie lovely scenes at distance hail," 

more powerfully than a ship's capstan lifting the anchor from its oozy 
bed of dulness, to swing its hammock at the bows, whilst the proud 
bark, her eager sails swelling in the breath of hope and expectation, 
rides careering over the waves ? 

It is true the lady in question, though leaning on her anchor, was 
not a bowery hope, she was, in fact, something of the Wapping breed 
and cut, like an honest landlady chalking two for one at the seaman's 
favourite sign, and eagerly looking forward to the happy moment when 
she should be able to set her cap-stern in defiance of the world. It 
offered a lesson to hope against hope ; for none who looked upon that 
face could ever yield to despair, especially when on certain mischievous 
opportunities a waggish youngster, to tease the old man his father, 
would stick a short pipe in her mouth. 

To complete the thing and give it a perfectly nautical finish, the base 
of the capstan was surrounded by sea shells, pieces of rock, coral, and 
flint stones, intermingled with the wooden heads and blubber faces of 
grinning cherubs, all looking up aloft to the enchanted figure that 
watched over them. 



168 THE OLD sailor's 

The inside of the cottage was characterized by the same peculiarities 
as the exterior ; everything was particularly neat and clean, the stone 
floors perfectly white with scrubbing, and the old high-backed, curi- 
ously carved oak chairs and tables of the same wood, brightly polished. 
In the family apartment this was particularly the case ; and on the wall 
.was fixed a looking-glass in mahogany frame, elaborately ornamented 
| with nondescript birds and sheaves of corn in burnished gilt, beneath 
which, on brackets made of sheet copper, horizontally reposed a well 
bee's-waxed wooden leg. There were also several glaringly coloured 
pictures of naval engagements between the English and Dutch fleets, 
and brandy-faced portraits of veteran chiefs who had sustained — and 
i nobly sustained, the honour of their country's flag. In one place was 
a brass-mounted hanger crossed by a short boarding-pike, and lashed 
together at the crossing with a piece of white line, forming, in the 
finish, a true-love knot. On one of the tables stood a correct model of 
a frigate, rigged according to the fashion of the times ; and in a small 
glass case above it, was a massive silver call, such as was once the 
symbol of the most exalted rank in the Royal Navy, and whose shrill 
sounds from the lips of a Lord High Admiral were designed to invigo- 
rate the men in the heat of battle ; but in later times was only used by 
the boatswain and his mates to summon the people to their duty or 
their meals, and to direct their operations when busily engaged without 
the aid of human voice. To the call was attached a thickly-linked 
silver chain, which was coiled round in Flemish flakes ; and in the same 
case, beneath the call, hung in strange companionship the messenger 
of mortal death, and the emblem of eternal life, the latter consisting of 
a heavy, but small gold crucifix, the former, a flattened musket-bullet 
of lead. There were other tokens of the mariner to be seen, such as 
the palm and needle, the marlin-spike, etc. etc.; but these were mere 
accidental displays, only coming forth occasionally when wanted for use. 

The sleeping-rooms were of the ordinary nature, except that in one 
of them a seaman's hammock was suspended diagonally from corner to 
corner by stout rope laniards, that were well calculated, by their thick- 
ness and strength, to bear the strain of a heavy weight. The linen was 
delicately clean, and every department indicated the industrious habit 
of a clever and tidy housewife. 

And now we must come to the inhabitants of this charming spot, as 
more essential to the progress of our history. 

John Paulet was a thorough seaman of the old school, and from his 
earliest years had served in ships of the Royal Navy. Whilst yet a 
youth, he was actively engaged in the battle off Cape la Hogue, when 
the English and Dutch fleets combined under Admiral Russell (after- 
wards Earl of Orford), defeated the French, commanded by the Count 
de Tourville, whose ship, the Royal Sun, was burnt. He also served 
in the Breda, carrying the flag of brave old Benbow in the West Indies, 
when so basely deserted by his captains in the attack on the French 
squadron under Du Casse, and was with the gallant veteran when he 
died. He then sailed with Sir George Rooke, and afterwards under 
Admiral Byng ; but having lost his leg in the action with the Spanish 



tfOLLY BOAT* 169 

fleet near Syracuse, he retired upon a pension, and through the 
recommendation of one of his old commanders, obtained the office 
which he then held. But John, or sturdy Jack— as he was called — had 
been so much accustomed to messmates, that he could not enjoy a 
solitary life ; so he took to himself a mate, a careful, industrious, thrifty 
woman, just suited to his condition ; and though at most times inclined 
to have her own way, and top the officer over her husband, yet she was 
in all other respects an excellent wife, and rigidly attentive to her 
duties. Between them, they had contrived to raise the little Paradise 
they were in full enjoyment of, when their gratification was increased 
by the birth of a son, who in his infantile days resembled a bee from a 
hive, darting forth at the rising of the summer's sun to revel amongst 
the flowers, and at evening tide returning to quiet repose in the midst 
of honied sweets. They had no other family, and the happiness of the 
worthy pair seemed to be complete. 

In the prime of his vigour, when admiral's coxswain and chief 
boatswain's mate, sturdy Jack stood rather more than six feet in height, 
with limbs in correct proportion to his altitude, a fine, manly counte- 
nance, well bronzed by the sun, aided by many a stiff gale to blow the 
dust off; and though now age Was logging down its rough reckonings 
in the wrinkles of his face, and his body bent under the pressure of 
increasing years, yet he still presented a fine sample of the gallant 
Veteran seaman, as arrayed in a rough cloth jacket, fulled at the lower 
part, petticoat trousers, buckles in his shoes, and a three-cornered 
cock-and'pinch hat upon his head, he drank his grog, cracked his jokes, 
and sang old songs. 

It was a lovely early summer afternoon, and nature, redolent with 
delight, appeared to select this favoured spot for mirth and holiday. 
The heavens, in its general sympathy for the parched earth, had been 
scattering tears that still hung clustering on the foilage, refreshing the 
drooping herbage and flowers, and glistening in the bright rays of a 
gorgeous sun. Old John was seated in his favourite lodge with mesh 
and needle, manufacturing a cabbage net, his wooden pin projecting 
like the muzzle of a musketoon through the open door, to remind all 
who approached that he was at his post, and not to be gammoned out 
of his dues ; as he had by this time been enabled to farm the tolls 
himself, and, as a natural consequence, keep a bright eye upon the 
11 regulars." His flag was hoisted at the mast head, flashing its colours 
in the golden light— sure evidence of some extraordinary commemo- 
ration—a flask of real Jamaica, with a jug of pure cold spring water, 
and a pint horn cup, was on the bench at his side, but not idly there, 
as with rough-toned voice he sang in snatches, and frequently moistened 
his music with an equal mixture of two opposite qualities, the strong 
and the weak. 

*' Oh they said he was a Jacohite, 
And if the French should heave in sight, 
He'd box his pumps, and wouldn't fight, 

To a country proving a rogue. 
But when de Tourville put to sea, 
My eyes but he banged them heartily, 
For he made the French fleet quickly fle© 
For shelter to Cape la Hogue." 
22 



170 THE OLD SAILORS 

*' To be sure he did," continued the veteran, " and yet they wanted 
to make him out a traitor, and not fit to be trusted with a command. 
Every man has a just right to his nat'ral principles as regards house- 
hold affairs at home ; but when foreigners want to shove their spoons 
into English messes, it's another sort of a matter, and no harm done 
if they burns their fingers for their pains "—he caught sight of his 
first-born and heir apparent, who had crept stealthily into the lodge, 
taking a rather persevering draught from the horn cup. " Avast* 
avast there, young monkey-face !" shouted he, without however re- 
straining the child, whom he gazed upon w T ith fondness, " and yet 
how naturally the youngster takes to the stuff. Avast, I say," taking 
away the cup, •* why you'll get your jib bowsed taut up, and steer as 
wild as the flying Dutchman ; aye, there's your mother a coughing — 
lord love the boy, how he gapes, like an owld maid in a trawl net." 

And gasp sure enough he did, for the potency of the amalgamated 
liquid had almost taken away his power to breathe, and his lungs were 
still struggling for mastery when the lady of the mansion entered, and 
having looked upon her child, exclaimed— 

" Now fie upon you, John Paulet ; is it not enough that I yield to 
your wishes for intoxicating compounds, but you must also coax the 
poor boy to share your evil propensit) 7 ? Draw your breath, Harry, 
draw it strong ;" and she clapped the child upon the back, which served 
to impede her requests rather than accelerate them, and the boy was 
approximating towards strangulation, when the alarmed father took 
him in his arms, and was stumping off with him to the house as respi- 
ration was restored, and the urchin, recovering the use of his tongue, 
uttered in broken accents, 

" Sing — sing it — sing it again, father — do, about the French fleet 
and Cape Hog." 

" You precious young scamp to drink my grog," responded old 
John, kissing the child; "I'll Cape Hog you with a cat-o' -nine-tails 
afore long. Take him away, Molly, take him away ; he's swallowed 
enough to make daylight dance in his eyes." 

4i And you, John Paulet, who ought to have known better, to sit by 
and see it done," angrily exclaimed the mother, as she received her son 
from the arms of his father ; " and now the poor child will be ill, and 
through your teaching him bad habits." 

" Come, come, avast there, Molly," remonstrated her husband, good- 
humouredly ; you knows you don't mean what you say ; its a sad 
heart as never rejoices, and taking a drop of stuff now and then arn't 
no bad habit, anyhow ; especially on the 23rd of May, a day on which 
we destroyed the French fleet. Ah, that was warm work, lovey, 
when we burnt and sunk more than thirty sail of the line ;" and hs 
went on singing, — 

" It was such grand and glorious play, 
For we fought the French both night and day, 
And at last we made them run away, 

To anchor off Cape la Hogue. 
And there we finished our gallant fun, 
For we burnt and destroyed the ' Royal Sun,' 
With forty more as was undone ; 

Now warn't owld Russell a rogue V 






JOLLY BOA.T. ltl 

6S I neither know nor care any thing about old Russell," retorted 
the wife ; " it's well for you, John Paulet, to be singing nonsensical 
songs, and drinking at a sitting more than would satisfy a moderate 
man for a week ; this is not the way to be saving for your family after 
you're dead and gone." 

" I should think you wanted me to slip my cable, Molly, but that 
I knows you better," urged the veteran ; k< a pretty corpse I should 
make with my wooden leg laying straight in the coffin ; who would 
you have to comfort you then, my precious ? and who who would look 
after and edecate the boy ?" 

•• Sing, — si, — sing it again, father," hiccupped the child, on whom 
the mixture was operating with due effect ; " si — sing about Ca, — 
Cape Hog ; nev — never mind mother." 

" Educate the boy !" repeated the seaman's more than better half, 
whilst she vainly struggled against a smile ; " a pretty tutor indeed you 
make, John Paulet ! there's no denying that, if we may judge by your 
scholar, — be quiet, Harry," for the boy was getting obstreperous under 
the influence of the liquor, and struggled to get free ; " lay still, child 
lay still; ha I something must be done with him, he'll tear his clothes, 
and they will cost ever so much to get them mended." 

" Let me go to father !" shouted the j'oungster ; " let — let me go — 
©wld Russ — Russ — ell and Cape — Cape Hog — let me go, then." 

"No, no Harry my precious," urged old John; " go and turn in 
for an hour, and take a snooze to yourself ; you'll be all right then, and 
I'll rig you a new boat. 

But Harry was obstinate, his mother could scarcely hold him ; and 
she was moving away towards the cottage, but with woman's spirit 
she could not forbear a parting salute to her husband. 

" Ha, kick and fling boy, do," said she, holding him tighter in her 
arms ; " no managing of him, he's jist like his father." 

'•Then he's like a man who has always done his duty, Mrs. Paulet," 
answered the veteran proudly ; " one who has fought the French in 
many a hard battle, and lent a hand to beat 'em — a man who has lost 
his precious limb," and he looked at the timber substitute with min- 
gling emotions, " in the service of his king, and never disgraced the 
colour of his cloth." 

But the woman was beyond hearing, though the pleasant smile of 
triumph on her check indicated that it had not all been lost upon her, 
and she was proud of the prowess of her husband, whom she ardently 
esteemed, notwithstanding her assumptions of supremacy. Old John 
looked after her, and if any angry feelings had been aroused, they 
quickly subsided, as re-seating himself, and mixing another portion, he 
observed, — 

" Well she's a good wife too, and knows how to cater for the mess. 
As for the boy, Lord love him, he's one arter my own heart, and I 
shall live to see him a credit to his country yet afore I die. How 
kindly the young monkey took to the stuff, and the more in regard of 
its being the 23rd of May, a day which oughtn't never to be for- 
gotten." He quaffed the mixture he had made, and having smacked 



172 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

his lips to testify that it was much to his liking, he resumed his netting 
work and his song, 

" Then shipmates all who goes to sea, 
Come drink, and sing right merrily, 
And finish off with three times three, 

To the victory off Cape la Hogue. , 
When Russell had the chief command, 
And Gregory Rook was his right hand, 
Oh ! we beat the fleet of Loohe la Grand, 
And—" 

What further the ditty had to express, was cut short by a rattling at 
the hatch, which summoned the veteran from his bench. 



CHAPTER II. 



•* I find the people 6trangely fantasied 
Possess'd with rumours, full of idle dreams ; 
Not knowing what they fear, but full of fear."— 

Shakespeare. 



A battling at the hatch summoned the veteran (John Paulet) from 
his bench in the snug little retreat that he was accustomed to call his 
" look out." Without a moment's delay he stopped short in his song, 
and promptly attended to his duty by advancing to the barrier gate, 
the upper part of which was open (as before described), and whilst so 
doing, a well-remembered voice gaily saluted him with — 

" So ho, Master Paulet, fighting your battles over again" — and 
raising his hand to point at the flag — " with the union of Saint Andrew 
and Saint George flying above your head, as if the victory off La 
Hogue had finally settled the business between the two countries. 
Yes, there are the united crosses of Papistry which our gallant 
seamen firmly established on that day, though the Protestants were 
everywhere knocking the Catholics on the head. Oh it was the 
height of consistency, Master Paulet." 

This was uttered by an elderly man habited in the dress of a 
substantial tradesman of those days ; but there was an assumption of 
importance about him, and an energy in his manner, that would have 
led a stranger to suppose he was superior to the general run of the 
class to which he claimed to belong. Though not very stout, his limbs 
were firm and well set; his eyes were sharp and piercing; and his 
countenance, though generally smiling and mild, at times displayed 
a look of fixed determination, that plainly indicated he was a man 
not to be trifled with. He shook old John heartily by the hand, 
and the veteran seemed delighted with the visit, though somewhat 
shrinking from the familiarity with which his old Mend had accosted 
him. 




: 



Qyw^fetfvrza ^^ &/7i&??v2> 



JOLLY BOAT. 173 

Who James Trueman really was — except the character he had 
given to himself, a travelling packman — old Jack never thought it 
worth his while to inquire. Their first meeting had heen extremely 
singular, for the veteran, having one evening indulged rather too freely 
in strong potations with some old messmates in Greenwich Hospital, 
was stumping home at a late hour towards the hatch, across Saint 
George's Field, when he heard a hue and cry at a short distance, and 
a man, almost exhausted, ran up to him, and implored his assistance in 
rescuing him from his pursuers. 

" Run ! run !" cried Jack, as he placed himself by the side of a tree, 
and grasped his oak cudgel firmly in his hand. " Bear a hand d'ye 
hear, and I'll cut off the lubbers as they come up." 

The man again started off— the momentary stoppage had renewed 
his expiring strength ; and old Jack, without one thought as to who 
were the aggressors, only supposed that numbers were unequal, and 
never thinking that the same reasoning would apply to his own posi- 
tion, prepared to fell the foremost runner to the earth, which he did 
most effectually by a smart blow on the back of the neck, which laid 
him prostrate ; up came another, and shared the same fate ; the third, 
in his eager haste, stumbled over the bodies of his comrades ; and the 
fourth would have followed the example but for the cries of those who 
preceded him. Astonished at what he beheld, he suddenly stopped, 
and made inquiry as to the cause, but not one of them could account 
for it ; and whilst the last comer assisted to raise the two who were 
most maimed, old Jack passed round the trunk of the tree, and 
stealthily crept away in the darkness, leaving " the enemy," as he 
called them, terribly frightened at what they believed was an infernal 
visitation, as no one had been seen ; and fancy, ever fond of indulging 
in superstition, conjured up a smell of sulphurous exhalation, though, 
with greater probability, it might have proceeded from a more natural 
cause. 

In honour of his visit to the Hospital, as well as to gratify his own 
peculiar self-esteem, Jack had that day worn his splendid silver call 
which had been given to him by Sir George Rooke, as a token of 
merit for his gallant conduct at the relief of Gibraltar. It had been 
suspended from the button-hole of his waistcoat by a blue ribbon ; 
but on his reaching home, to his great mortification and astonishment, 
he found that it was gone, but how, or where, he could form no rea- 
sonable conjecture. It is true he remembered that the man who had 
been so hotly pursued had run rather violently against him, and for 
a moment or two had clung to his shoulders for support ; but whether 
it had been then torn away, or had been wrenched from its hold 
as he strenously applied his cudgel, he was equally ignorant. With- 
out mentioning one word of his disaster to his wife, old Jack went 
to bed, but was up before the lark in the early morning, and shaping 
his course for St. George's Fields, then an open place of dangerous 
resort, on account of the villanous characters who infested the neigh- 
bourhood. As near as he could possibly guess, the veteran traced his 
course of the previous night ; but he would have been utterly unable 



174 THE old sailor's 

to have recognized the spot, had not several persons already arrived 
upon the ground, and were carefully and closely examining the 
locality. Old Jack joined the party, and inquired the reason of their 
being thus early astir. There was no lack of speakers all eager to 
tell some marvellous tale ; but the most prominent was a young man, 
who swore, that, whilst in pursuit of a suspected person who had 
broken from arrest, his companions had been knocked down by an 
unseen hand, but that on his coming up, a huge monster enveloped in 
blue flames, was hovering over them, as if eager to carry off his prey- 
that he fought with the demon, which at length vanished, leaving 
them in black darkness, and almost dead with bruises and frights. 

" Ah the beggar ! I know him," said Jack, with a grin of defiance ; 
" it was your long-shore Davy Jones, with eyes like a copper-pot 
lid—" 

" Exactly so," remarked the other with avidity. 
) " And mouth as big and as hot as a baker's oven," continned Jack, 
to the gaping audience. 

" If you had seen it, you could not have described it more correctly !" 
assented the man, as he looked round him. 
; *' Breathing out fire like a blast from a furnace," added the seaman. 

" I feel its scorching heat at this moment — oh it was terrible !" 
declared the man, with a shudder that run through the crowd. 

" And little jets of flame coming out of his head, and playing round 
his temples like fiery snakes," uttered Jack, by way of climax — " and 
roared like a bull." 

"True, true," pronounced the man covering his eyes with his 
hands ; "he did indeed roar, especially whenever I got a crack at him." 

" No doubt in life on it," remarked Jack, with ready assurance ; 
" but the lubber's a coward arter all, and won't stand fight. Have you 
diskivered any brimstone among the grass ?" 

" Nothing of that kind has been found ; though, as you see, the 
ground looks scorched," answered the man. 

" What haven't you picked up any thing ?" demanded the veteran, 
who hoped, yet almost dreaded, to hear of his call ; but he was 
answered in the negative, and judging how useless it was to parti- 
cularize, he made no further inquiries for the missing property, but 
asked " Who was the fellow they were in chase of? " 

" It must have been the arch-fiend himself," replied the constable, 
" or he never could have got away as he did ; nay more, it's my belief 
that it was the vision that afterwards appeared and so belaboured us. 
He was given into our custody by a king's messenger-at-arms, who 
charged us to guard him well, and take him safely to the nearest 
lock-up. Now there were four of us, all constables — good men and 
true — and who would have ever given it a moment's thought that he 
would have the hardihood and impudence to try and escape from such 
a guard ; but he had neither respect for our quality, nor yet proper 
manners to conduct himself, for whilst I and another went into a house 
to get a light for our lanterns, he started off from the otjier two. But, 
then, what can be expected from a fiend like that?" 



JOLLY BOAT. 175 

After some farther conversation* as old Jack could gain no tidings 
of his call, he pursued his way to Greenwich ; but he was equally 
unsuccessful at the Hospital, his messmates reminding him that he 
piped " belay " just as they parted. The veteran returned home by 
water, and though he chuckled at the story of the demon, he was 
excessively grieved for the loss of his call ; and as the person who had 
escaped had been characterized as a suspected traitor, he now became 
convinced that the individual whom he had befriended, had repaid his 
generous assistance by robbing him. 

Several months elapsed, when one day an elderly man, apparently 
bending with years and the weight of a thick warm cloak, appeared 
at the hatch ; on his head he wore a large bushy wig that came well 
down over his forehead, and it was surmounted by a broad flapped 
hat that partly rested on the collar of the cloak. Very little of his 
features could be seen. Jack opened the gate, and the stranger threw 
back the front lapelles of the cloak to get the required coin to insure 
his passage— his under coat was unbottoned, and there beneath it* 
from a hole in the waistcoat and suspended by a massive silver chain, 
hung a call, which made Jack's eyes twinkle to behold ; there was no 
mistaking it— the blue ribbon was still attached— it was indeed his own ! 
and hastily seizing it he collard the possessor, who, starting erect, 
with the nerve of a giant shook off the veteran as if he had been a 
child. 

" What means this insolence ? " demanded the stranger in an 
authoritative manner, and standing on his guard. 

" Every man for his own, master," replied old John angrily ; " and 
though you may be the strongest of the two, you and I don't part till 
I get it again. Warn't it given to me by owld Georgy Rooke for that 
ere business at Gibraltar." 

" Of what are you speaking, my friend," said the stranger, dropping 
the folds of his cloak so as to conceal the call. 

" Come none o' that," roared old Jack ; " you think to hide it, do 
you ?" he put his hand within the lodge, and produced a heavy club- 
stick, which he firmly grasped. " This will make us more equal, and is 
the very dentical cudgel that I knocked the enemy down with in Saint 
George's Fields the night I lost it ; so no gammon d'ye hear, but 
hand it over, or I shall make old Benbow here do special duty again ;'* 
and he shook his ponderous weapon. 

" I begin to understand your meaning," said the stranger with 
mildness, though still standing on the defensive with a watchful eye, 
" you are speaking of the whistle — " 

" The what !" bellowed Jack indignantly ; " to go for to call a 
nat'ral christian-like pipe, such as that is, a whistle ! I'm ashamed 
of your ignorance, man. But then, mayhap it's excusable, as beliko 
you've never been to sea — " 

" Assuredly not, in a professional capacity," responded the stran- 
ger ;" but you were alluding to the silver badge that is hanging from 
my breast — do you know any thing of it ?" 

Old John gave him a look of contempt as he replied—" Now only 



178 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

to think what silly questions a person may ax as dosen't know any 
thing about the matter* Why, it's my own call to be sure." 

" And lost, as you have already said, in Saint George's Fields V* 
uttered the stranger inquiringly ; " may I ask how you lost it ? " 

" Why mayhap the ungrateful fellow stole it," responded the 
veteran reproachfully ; for he began to suspect that the individual he 
had so timely served was standing before him. " But as I claim it, 
and mean to have it too, it's perhaps only fair I should explain tho 
whole." 

** Rightly determined, my friend," said the stranger mildly ; " and 
believe me, if you can prove to my satisfaction that the whistle—" 

•* Call, call 1" interrupted Jack with vehemence, " give every thing 
its right name ; you may as well say it's a bagpipe as a whistle." 

" Well, well, ' call, then," assented the stranger, with a smile at the 
seaman's adherence to technicality. " I was about to say that if you 
can prove that the whis — I mean call, which 1 carry, is really yours, 
I shall have a thousand times more pleasure in restoring it than you 
can possibly have in receiving it. Pray what is your name ? and I 
assure you I do not ask it impertinently," 

" There's J. P. carved on the call," replied old Jack, " standing for 
John Paulet— the name I've answered the hail on ever since I was 
shoved into the parson's bathing tub, and it's entered on the books of 
every ship I've sarved in." 

" There certainly are such letters on the whis — I beg pardon, call 
I should say," remarked the stranger ; '" but will you favour me with 
the particulars how you lost it?" 

" To be sure I will," replied the veteran with eagerness, " I haven't 
got no matter of cause as I know of to be ashamed on it.— D'ye see, 
I'd been on a cruise to Greenwich to see owld Sam Blake, and Tom 
Groggins, and another or two, in regard of our having been mess- 
mates together; and they now snugly moored in that grand and 
beautiful place which, they tell me, was formerly the palace of good 
Queen Bess of glorious memory, God rest her soul ! but it was given 
by some king or other for the use of disabled seamen, and Sam and 
Tom had brought up under the lee of it, to ride out for the rest of 
their lives in peace and plenty. So we had a glorious day of it, and 
overhauled owld consarns when we were youngsters together, and 
sported a bit of the monkey. At last, when night came, we parted 
company, and I gave 'em a farewell wind of my call — that call as 
you've got hanging there — and makes sail for home. But some how 
or another I couldn't keep my wooden leg to one side of the street, 
and it would keep crossing over, and crossing back again, that I got 
quite dizzy and nonplushed with staggering ; and ' mayhap,' thinks I, 
* it wants to go back again to Greenwich, and chum with its brothers.* 
Well, this sort of tack and half- tack bothered my course, and de- 
layed me ever so long, as more than once I had to bring up for the 
tide as was running strong again me. It was taut work, but by dint 
of good seamanship, I contrived to make George's Fields, where a 
strange sail as was carrying on a heavy press, come slap aboard of 



JOLL? BOAT. 177 

me, and would have foundered, but that I rigged out my spars and 
shored him up. ' Yo hoy !' says I. ' Save me,' says he ; ' there's the 
enemy in chase, and no port to shelter in.' ' Run, run,' says I, ' heave 
a-head out of this ;' and having got the breeze again, away he started. 
So I hauls up alongside of a tree as a bit of ambuscade, and presently 
up comes a man at a rattling pace, as if the devil kicked him endways. 
' Do your duty owld Benbow,' says I to my stick ; and I'm blessed if 
he wanted a second bidding, for he gave only one twirl, and down 
dropped the runner as flat as a Chinaman's face. Up came another, 
and owld Benbow having whispered a word in his ear, off he went, 
and clapped himself alongside of his consort. Number three came 
next ; but Benbow missed him, and I was just threatening a dozen for 
it in my own mind, when number three tumbled over his companions, 
and scatters himself all along upon the grass, rolling over and over 
like fun. Still I hears another a coming; ' Stand by ! owld Benbow,' 
says I ; but he caught sight of the others afore he got to them, and 
brings up all standing ; so I boxes the compass round the tree whilst 
they were all hanging in the doldrums, and carries on till I got clear, 
and when I went to turn in after getting home, I diskivered as the 
call was gone ; and in course I suspects the man I'd saved as having 
stole, or borrowed it, by accident — " 

"My gallant friend," exclaimed the stranger, "you are indeed my 
preserver ; but the call was neither borrowed nor stolen — it came into 
my possession by sheer accident, having caught to the hook of my 
short cloak whilst you were supporting me, and must have been torn 
away when I again set off." He threw open his coat, and unfastening 
the instrument, held it out to the veteran. " Take it — take it," said 
he, observing that old John was gazing earnestly at the silver chain. 
" The whole is yours ; let the chain be a memorial of my gratitude — 
I have generally worn it as you have seen, under the hope that it 
would be recognized by the owner, and now that he is found, most 
heartily do I restore it." 

Thus induced, old John received the call, and applying it to his 
lips, there issued forth tones, which, if not strictly harmonious, were 
musical and shrilly piercing. This brought out Mrs. Paulet, who had 
often rated her husband for his negligence in losing so valuable a relic, 
especially as she attributed it to intoxication ; and her gratification on 
beholding it once more was little less than the brave old seaman's ; 
nor did the sight of the massive chain in any way diminish her 
pleasure. It was delivered into her hands, and was safely conveyed 
into the cottage. 

" And now," said old John, " since I have told you all about it, may 
I ax — though it arn't altogether no business of mine — yet may lax 
what you was running away for that night ?" 

" Certainly my friend — it all originated in a mistake," answered 
the stranger. " My name is James Trueman, a loyal subject of the 
king ; but it appears that, whilst travelling at some distance from the 
metropolis, I fell into company with an outlawed rebel, and we jour- 
neyed for the space of two days upon the same road — of course, I 
23 



\1S THE OLD SAILOB'S 

was ignorant of his character, or I would not have run such a risk ; 
but he was a pleasant-speaking gentleman, and I was glad of his 
society. At Coventry he was recognized, and attempts were made 
to take him ; when I, acting upon the spur of the moment, and unac- 
quainted with his person, took the weaker side, and after a smart 
brush he got off; but I was not so fortunate, for having no fear of the 
consequences, and being encumbered besides, was made prisoner, 
taken before the magistrates — witnesses proved my association with 
the outlaw, and my aiding his escape — communications were for- 
warded to the government, who sent orders for my removal to the 
metropolis, to be examined before the Privy Council. I was on my 
way thither, when, taking advantage of a relaxation in vigilance 
amongst my guards, I cleared myself of them, and took to my heels. " 

"But why, if you had nothing to fear, why should you run away ? " 
asked old John. 

" These are perilous times, my friend," returned Trueman ; " to be 
suspected, and to be condemned, are almost synonymous terms. As 
soon as I ascertained that my companion was indeed a rebel spy in 
the service of Prince Charles, I became sensible that strong suspicion 
would be excited against me ; and as proofs of innocence are but too 
often mystified so as to be taken in evidence for guilt, I weighed the 
matter well, preferring freedom to confinement, and, through your 
aid, most happily obtained it. Since then the affair has been fully 
explained — at all events, Master Paulet, you see that I am enjoying 
liberty, and shall be glad to exercise it in partaking of your hospi- 
tality ; for, after so sudden and strange an introduction, it follows 
naturally, that we should become better known to each other." 

And better known as good friends they very soon were ; for True- 
man, though not frequent in his visits, seldom came without bringing 
some present of hardware, or cloth, or ornament for Mrs. Paulet : 
all which things, he said, were appertaining to his usual trade. At 
certain times, his manners assumed a loftiness that seemed to be far 
superior to his avowed station in life ; and, occasionally, he indulged 
in a freedom of speech, that would have been more than hazardous 
had he exercised it in general society. 

Such was the visitor to the hatch, who, as already mentioned at the 
commencement of this chapter, hailed the veteran with 

" So-ho ! Master Paulet — fighting your battles over again, with the 
union of Saint Andrew and Saint George flying above your head, 
as if the victory off La Hogue had finally settled the business between 
the two countries. Yes, there are the united crosses of Papistry 
which our gallant seamen firmly established on that day, though the 
Protestants were everywhere knocking the Catholics on the head." 

" All that may be correct enough in the ship's reckoning, worthy 
Sir," responded the veteran, as he unclosed the hatch ; " but it was 
never no consarn of mine, seeing as all I had to do with the matter 
was to obey orders, and beat the French — " 

" And by defeating the French," remarked the other — as he entered 
the barrier, and shut it after him — "you destroyed the prospects of the 



JOLLY BOAT. 179 

rightful Monarch of these realms, and fixed his doom in exile — an out- 
cast from his throne and his dominions, which were usurped by 
another." 

" Aye, aye, friend Trueman," returned the veteran ; " I've heard you 
say as much afore. But your Jameses or your Williarases are all as 
one to me. as long as there's a Commander in Chief's flag leading the 
fleet against a foreign enemy — and, more especially, the French. 
Besides, I've often told you, friend Trueman, that King William was 
on the throne when I first shipped in a man-of-war ; and though it 
was said that Admiral Russell favoured the cause of James, and would 
have brought him to his own again if he could, yet the owld boy knew 
better than to^et Mountseer de Towerwille get to windard of his duty 
to his country." 

"It was a strange affair, Master Paulet — a very strange affair," 
remarked the other, leaning his shoulder against the entrance to the 
lodge in which old John had again re-seated himself. " I was then but 
a young man, just out of my apprenticeship ; but, as in those times 
Protestant ascendancy was the universal cry, and only three or four 
years before the King, being deserted by his subjects, in turn 
abandoned them, there was a general feeling amongst young and old ; 
for a civil w r ar, Master Paulet, brings such matters home to our own 
door ; and as party strife and religious rancour grew stronger and 
Btronger, why it was very natural for people to take one side or the other." 

" All ship-shape and proper, friend Trueman," returned the seaman, 
continuing his work ; " I arn't never the man to gainsay it, or to 
quarrel with people because they chooses to work their ship different 
to myself; all as I've got to say is, he's no Englishman who catches 
sight of French colours, and dosen't want to have a slap at the craft 
as carries them.—-" 

" Always touching the same cord, I find, Mr. Paulet," observed his 
companion with a sarcastic smile ; '* fight the French, whether or no — ■ 
right or wrong. But, if I recollect right, Russell was strongly sus- 
pected at the time; and it Was asserted that he 1 would surrender the 
fleet to the French Admiral for the service of James ; nay more, that 
negociations had been going on between Russell and the expatriated 
Monarch to that effect — " 

" Harkee, friend Trueman ! uttered the veteran, with some degree 
of sternness in his manner, as he laid aside his netting, and looked 
earnestly in the other's face. " Harkee, my friend ; crack your jokes 
on my head, and you're welcome ; but don't go for to disparage and 
damage a character as won't be easily found, now Admiral Russell has 
*one to give in his reckoning in another world ; he was as brave as a 
lion, and as generous as half a dozen princes put together — " 

" I deny him the possession of neither generosity nor bravery, 
Master Paulet," quietly answered the other ; " doubtless he had both 
qualities, and largely too. What I am saying is, that suspicions ran 
high against him, and it was augured that he would take the fleet over 
to the cause of James — " 

tk I arn't got nothing to say to that, friend Trueman," said old John, 



180 TIIE OLD SAILOK S 

unconscious that his companion was drawing him into a dilemma. 
" As I told you afore, it was no odds to me whether James or William 
wore the crown, as long as I had my allowance, and the French were 
made to know that we were masters of the seas — " 

" But, my gallant and worthy Master Paulet," replied the visitor 
with avidity, " don't you see that, in order to secure the English fleet 
for James, he must have surrendered it to the French — ?" 

"No — I'm blessed if ever I seed any such thing," returned the 
half-angry seaman. " Surrendered to the French, eh ! why, where 
did you larn history, I should like to know ? When did we surren- 
der ? —come, tell me that, if you can. Not on the twenty-third of 
May, off Cape la Hogue, friend Trueman; nor yet in^many a more 
sharp brush with them polly-wooing wagabons. Surrender, 
indeed ! — " 

" When you have got to the end of your tether, Master Paulet," 
quietly observed the other, " I will answer you. I never said you had 
surrendered, or ever contemplated such a thing ; what I stated was, 
that in case Admiral Russell had wanted to have carried the fleet over 
to James, he must have placed it in the power of the French ; and 
that de Tourville expected he would do so, is certain, else why did he 
sail along the whole of the English line in his snperb ship, receiving 
their fire as he passed, in order to seek out the British Commander 
in Chief? Russell was true to his country, though not so to his 
King—" 

" True or not true, arn't the question, as I take it," rejoined Paulet 
firmly ; " and as to the gammon about surrender, there warn't a man 
in the fleet as 'ud give in to any French lubber as ever was made, let 
him be for who he would. Do you think owld Rooke or Sir 
Cloudesly Shovel would have submitted like children at a school ?" 

" It was not tried, my friend — it was not tried," remarked Trueman, 
rather impatiently. " But those were ticklish and perilous times, 
Master Paulet. Ireland was in a ferment ; insurrections were threa- 
tened in the northern parts of England and of Scotland ; James had 
many friends in London, and though the Dutchman behaved himself 
with moderation and good sense, yet he was a foreigner and an alien, 
and people didn't like to see the throne of England filled by any but a 
native prince — " 

*' A native, nat'ral English-born Prince, friend Trueman," uttered 
Paulet in doubt and surprise ; " why, warn't William a native of this 
country ? 

" No, no, Master Paulet ; no," responded the other, amused at the 
old seaman's simplicity, and wondering at his ignorance. " And 
you, who have been exclaiming against foreigners befooling us, 
fought and shed your blood to fix a Dutchman on the throne of 
England, to the exclusion of the rightful King. What have you to 
say to that, Master Paulet ? Come, expound me the riddle it 
you can." 

But old John was for the moment too much puzzled to expound 
any thing ; so he took a persevering pull at the beverage, and then 



JOLLY BOAT. 131 

handed the horn to his companion, who, apparently nothing loath, 
seemed to do it ample justice. He then again returned to the attack. 

" What silent, Master Paulet?" said he. Nay, man, never shrink ; 
your reason — your reason. Why should you fight the French, who 
appeared in arms for the true King of England, and risk your life 
for a Dutchman, who had usurped his throne ? Come man, your 
reason." » 

" Why, as for my reasons, friend Trueman," responded the veteran, 
stooping down, and trying to screw up his wooden pin in the socket, 
though it was perfectly tight before ; " you must see, Sir, that I was 
but a boy in them times, and not much larned in aifairs of state, any 
more than I am now." He looked up archly at his companion. 
" But I'm thinking as you're gammoning on me about that consarn of 
the Dutchman — " 

"Nay, nay, Master Paulet, in good truth I am not," positively 
replied the other ; " King William was actually and truly born in 
Holland, and consequently regularly Dutch built ; yet you fought the 
French to keep the crown upon his head. Chop logic as you may, it 
will amount to the same thing in the end. 

" I aru't never going to chop any thing," said the veteran, testily ; 
'• it's all a matter somewhat ahead of my comprehension ; but if so be 
as it is just as you say, why then I take it you must look upon 
me as — " 

" A worthy, honest man, Master Paulet. Yes, I repeat it ; a worthy, 
honest seaman," answered Trueman, interrupting the other; " one who 
loves Iris country, and never drew back his hand from a friend in 
distress. Nevertheless you have been deceived — deluded, Master 
Paulet ; and I have no doubt you fancy at this moment, that an 
Englishman is ruling over us." 

Paulet had been so bothered about the Dutchman that he hesitated 
to reply, fearing that he might again commit some error ; but at the 
same time strong doubts crossed his mind as to the actual state of 
the case ; for he had never troubled himself with a single considera- 
tion relative to the Protestant succession, and when he heard others 
conversing about a Pretender, and rebellions, he concluded that the 
former was de facto an impostor, who, by inciting the people to rebel- 
lion, sought to usurp the crown for himself. 

H You are silent, Master Paulet," continued Trueman, after a short 
pause. " Am I to take it for granted that you believe the present 
Sovereign of England is a countryman ?" 

'•Who say's as he is'nt?" demanded the veteran, endeavouring to 
escape from making any positive assertion of his own. 

"I say so," replied Trueman, firmly. "Yes, Master Paulet; I 
James Trueman, declare it ; he is a German — the second in succes- 
sion who has sat upon this throne — bringing with them foreign 
minions and parasites to prey upon our country. And it is for this, 
John Paulet, that you have been fighting through a long life, although 
you did not know it." 

** As for the matter of fighting for Dutchmen or Jarmans, friend 



132 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

Trueman, my conscience is quiet enough," responded the old sea- 
man ; " I never fought for none on 'em — it was in honour of the 
English flag that I pointed my gun, and did my duty ; though I must 
own that what you tell me about them foreigners arn't by ho manner 
of means pleasant to my notions of things in general ; and if it's all 
true, it's not so much wonder as owld Russell was a bit difficult to be 
pleased — " 

" But they made him an Earl," remarked Trueman ; " showered 
honours upon him ; and that smooths away all compunctious risings 
of conscience." 

" His bravery deserved more than power could ever give him," 
answered the veteran. " But come, friend Trueman, sit down ; we'll 
have another horn, and drink success to owld England and her 
wooden walls. What does it matter to us how they carry on the war 
at Court, so as we do but act uprightly to one another, and obey 
orders ?" 

" It matters much. John Paulet ; very much," returned his com- 
panion seriously ; " Englishmen are degraded ; society becomes dis- 
organized ; jealousies and bickerings lead to disaffection ; and 
disaffection prompts to revolt. The country is distracted by internal 
commotions; the innocent suffer with the guilty; and " warming as 
he proceeded in his catalogue of evils, " there are none, however 
humble their station, but must feel more or less affected by the 

manner in which they are governed. For my own part, I am" 

he stopped short, as a rattling noise was heard again at the hatch, 
and the merry voices of children announced a chappy little party 
impatient to be amongst the gardens, and enjoy the freshness of the 
flowers. Old John had a pleasant word for each as they passed, 
greeting him with respect and kindness ; and he was about to resume 
his seat, when he was once more aroused, and the hatch was opened 
to a stout-made man, in the peculiar dress of a waterman of that 
period. 

" Hillioah, hillioah, what cheer! what cheer! Master Paulet?" 
exclaimed the new comer. " Here you are, I see, just where a sea- 
man ought to be — over the hatchway " — he caught sight of Trueman 
inside the lodge. " Hopes no offence, your honour ; old John and I 
have known each other many years — shipmates and messmates in foul 
weather and fair ; and though we didn't happen to be together on the 
twenty-third of May, yet I've heard him tell the story so often, that it 
comes as nat'rally to me all the same as if I had been, And so d'ye 
see, happening to pick up a flask of brandy to-day amongst the French 
craft below bridge, I thought old John and I would have a toothful 
together. Not as I mean that you won't be heartily welcome to share it 
with us ; and if your honour wants to cross the water, I'll ferry you 
over with all the pleasure in life." 

The person addressed, when first spoken to, manifested something like 
impatience ; but his self-possession quickly returned, and he was again 
at perfect ease as he replied, " Many thanks, my friend, for both your 
offers — the first of which I will readily accept; and, should my stay 



JOLLY BOAT, 183 

be prolonged beyond the twilight hour, the second will be freely asked 
for; as it is dangerous, I am told, to wander on this side of the 
Thames after darkness has veiled the face of honesty." 

" Why yes, Sir, your information is correct," returned the water- 
man. " Outrages and robberies, and even murders, are getting quite 
common on the land, and it is only when in his boat that a man feels 
that he is safe. The theatre and low houses in Goodman's Fields 
harbours a many of the thieves ; and there's the decoy-cages, where 
they traps onfortinates for the colonies. Oh, there's sad work among 
'cm at times, and not a few lives lost." 

" It is very lamentable," remarked Trueman, as he made room for 
the new comer, " and manifests a want of energy in the Government. 
But what can we expect from men who, though English born, and 
inheriting a natural warmth of feeling, suffer themselves to be guided 
and governed in their actions by cold-blooded Germans, who have 
no other actuating motive than self-interest?" What do they care 
about foolish Englishmen killing each other, any more than every 
death makes additional room for a countryman of their own ?" 

" Belay— belay there, friend Trueman," exclaimed old John, eyeing 
his companion with something like distrust. " Though I never make 
or meddle with matters of State as is altogether out of my calculations, 
yet I knows enough, friend Trueman, to hope as you never pays out 
the slack of such discourse where the ears of an enemy may be open to 
coil it away." 

" And yet, Master Paulet, as we're among friends," said the water- 
man, looking askance at the stranger, " I must allow there's a good deal 
of truth in what the gentleman says ; for instance, who cares for the 
river-rights, and the protection of our brotherhood, eh ? Arn't they 
every day building and launching more coaches than boats, so as to 
deprive us of our livelihood ? Would any but Jarmans suffer this to 
go on? But they want to destroy the independence of England, and 
they couldn't have found a readier way, old messmate. Then there's 
the new bridge as they're building — it almost breaks my heart to look 
at it — every arch is a span towards the destruction of the country — "• 

" Really, really, I cannot see the correctness of all this," remarked 
Trueman, with surprise ; " a facility of communication must be bene- 
ficial to a community-— carriages are extremely convenient — " 

** Not to my thinking, your honour," responded the waterman ab- 
ruptly. "When can their jolting, and jingling, and jostling, be 
compared with the pleasant, easy, and graceful movements of a wherry, 
where persons of the best quality may sit comfortably, and fear no 
upsetting or down breaking ? And who would go for to say that the 
streets and roads are as smooth as the glassy surface of the river ?" 

" All very just, my friend — very just," assented James Trueman ; 
" and yet there are numerous places which boats cannot reach. As a 
pack-man, I myself find a coach conveyance, for short distances, much 
preferable to horse — " 

" A packman!*' uttered the waterman in a tone of doubt, " I thought— 
but many faces are so much alike, there's no telling one from another—" 



184 THE old sailor's 

" For whom did you take me friend ?" asked Trueman, with perfect 
self-possession. " If I mistake not, my features may not be eos'ly 
forgotten ; but it is a matter of little consequence — I am plain 
James Trueman, a travelling packman ; and therefore the title of 
' Your honour,' when you are addressing me, may readily be spared ; 
In fact, I am the better pleased that it should be so, for on the level 
of equality we may be more communicative to each other ; I hate the 
restraints which superior rank imposes." 

" And yet, without proper subordination, we couldn't work ship, 
friend Trueman," observed John Paulet ; " though I must own, I 
would rather have a good English Officer in command than any 
Dutchman or Jarman, however clever they may be in seamanship. 
What say you, Bill ?" 

" To be sure — to be sure, Master Paulet," answered the waterman, 
with ready assent ; u for it stands to reason, that if we had our own 
countrymen in authority, they would understand the right jometry of 
the thing, and the new bridge and the jigamarees would be all sent to 
the devil together. As it is, we must look for no more victories on the 
ocean ; the French will become King of the Seas, and our naval power 
and maritime commerce must haul down the colours and strike to 
the enemy." 

" I cannot fathom your conclusions, friend," said James Trueman, 
quietly. " In what way will you make it appear that the use of 
coaches, and the building of a bridge, is to bring ruin upon the 
nation ?" 

" Tis plain enough, good traveller," returned the waterman ; " and 
you must have gained but little wit in your journies not to perceive it 
clearly. Whilst England can man her Navy, we may bid defiance to 
France and to the whole world. And from what source is her Navy 
principally manned — eh? Why, from our fraternity on the river 
Thames. We are made to serve, either voluntarily or by being 
pressed ; and the gangs know that we are always at hand, so that it's 
of no use trying to get out of the way. Well, what's the upshot of 
the coaches, but that they take away our trade, and thereby reduce 
our numbers, which arn't more than half what they were thirty years 
ago — and every week diminishes them ? Where will they get hands 
when we are gone ? Not from the coach-boxes, or among the bridge 
builders, I take it — " 

" I see your drift, my friend. Yes, I see it now," returned True- 
man, eagerly ; " and certainly there is some argument in it that 
requires consideration. Don't you think so, Master Paulet ?" 

" Bill is a cute chap, Sir," answered old John ; " he was always looked 
upon as a ' genus' when he was aboard, in the way of working a 
traverse. But if you have no objections, as you make out that we are 
all going hand over hand to owld Nick, why let's enjoy the present 
moment as we best may. Here's spirits, here's pure water, and a clean 
horn ; for my part, I think times as they are will last me out ; and so 
I see no use quarrelling with them. Help yourself, friends, and here's 
to the memory of owld Russell." 



JOLLY BOAT. 185 

The trio sat enjoying themselves, disturbed only by foot passengera' 
through the hatch, who, at length, became so numerous, that the 
old seaman flung the gate back ; taking care, however, to sft promi- 
nently forward, so as to receive his pence, till the twilight spread its 
deepening shades over the face of nature — when Trueman, availing 
himself of Bill Bowline's offer, took his departure from the hatch, 
and was ferried across the river to the opposite side ; whilst old John, 
having taken quantum suf of the exhilarating compound, hauled down 
his flag, and turned into his hammock. 



CHAPTEB HI. 



" Nothing can we call our own, but death ; 
And that small model of the barren earth, 
AVhich serves as paste and cover to our bones." 
******* 

" How oft, when men are at the point of death, 
Have they been merry ? which their keepers call 
A lightning before death." 

Shakespeare. 

Years progressed, and young Harry progressed with them ; whilst 
old Jack, his father, continued to enjoy his accustomed station at the 
hatch, where listeners would gather round of an evening to hear him 
tell his tales of perils on the ocean and wonders on the land. He 
would talk of old Benbow and his deeds of renown, till the audience 
learned to venerate the name of the brave veteran who had so nobly 
shed his life's-blood for his country, and to execrate the characters of 
those cowards who had so basely deserted him when engaging the enemy. 
But his favorite subject was the one already mentioned— the defeat 
and destruction of the French fleet off Cape la Hogue. 

It must be admitted, however, that old Jack was by no means de- 
ficient in his dealings with the marvellous ; in fact, he had (according 
to his own statements) witnessed the most strange and out-of-the-way 
spectacles and occurrences, which, in relating, he took good care 
should be in relative accordance with the capacities he had to address. 
For instance, he declared that he had seen mountains of sugar, whose 
bases were laved by rivers of rum, and adjacent were volcanoes that 
poured boiling water into the spirituous stream, so as to afford a 
constant supply of ready-made grog ; he had seen fishes fly like birds, 
that perched upon the rattlins ; he had beheld beasts swimming in the 
briny deep ; and to add weight to his assertion, he would insist upon it 
they were covered with scales. But the prettiest sight of all, and 
which he described in true poetical language, was that in which he had, 
for hours, watched the mermen and mermaids, under the bright light 
«)f the moon, dancing upon the surface of the waves to the music of the 
winds ; and he would tell of their misty evolutions through a four- 



186 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

handed reel, as rising erect above the swell of the billow, their piscatory 
tails gracefully swept the bosom of the dark blue waters. He once or 
twice went so far, as to narrate the manner in which, on a particular 
cruise, far distant from land, they fell in with a parish church that 
had drifted out to sea, the congregation knowing nothing of the matter 
till the ship's jib-boom ran foul of the steeple. These, and numerous 
other strange adventures, were veritably believed by his hearers; 
whether they assembled at the Halfpenny Hatch, or at the public-house 
on the banks of the river, or at the sign of the Crown, in Pedlar's Acre, 
which was more adjacent to his own domicile. 

Under such a sire, it can be no matter of surprise that young Harry 
imbibed much of the ardent and enthusiastic spirit of his father ; and 
as his years increased, the stronger grew his desire to visit foreign 
climes, and to fight the enemies of his country. His mother endea- 
voured, as well as she was able, to instruct him in the rudiments of 
learning ; and honest John, though but a poor scholar, lent his best 
assistance to advance the views of his wife, who, however, was not 
insensible to the over-indulgence the veteran lavished upon the boy, 
and the delight which the latter took in perpetrating many a piece of 
petty mischief of his father's planning. But it was chiefly to the 
casual visits of James Trueman, that Harry was indebted for any thing 
like real knowledge ; for he would teach his young mind to cherish a 
veneration for truth, whilst he imparted to him that information which 
is so engaging to youth in their eager search after novelty. Sometimes 
he would take the lad with him to the Abbey of Westminster, where 
he would descant, in eloquent and impressive language, on the merits 
and demerits of those whose remains were mouldering into dust, 
beneath the gorgeous monuments which affection or a nation's 
gratitude had reared. At the tombs, and in the chapels of the Kings, 
he would open an interesting detail of English history during the 
period in which they reigned. This was, in a great measure, practical 
instruction, and did not fail to leave an indelible impression on the 
mind of his ready and attentive pupil. More than once or twice he 
' took the boy to the Law Courts, and explained their nature and juris- 
diction ; and, occasionally, the lad accompanied his kind mentor to 
the lobbies of the Houses of Parliament, where Trueman pointed out to 
him the greatest statesman of their day, both Peers and Commoners, for 
he seemed to know them all, both in character and person. 
* Grateful as old John was for these good offices, yet he would occa- 
sionally shake his head, and express a belief that " in regard of 
edecation, he thought it warn't altogether ship-shape to stow a cargo 
in the boy's fore hold that he'd hardly be able to carry with his light 
heels ; and he had no notion of bringing a craft so much down by the 
head." 

Still, whatever views James Trueman had with regard to young 
Harry, be seldom interfered in his manual avocations ; and as the lad 
was now of an age to start on his career for life, a council was held as 
to the most eligible mode of promoting his future welfare. The 
wealthy packman argued in favour of the sea, and this suited the 



JOLLY BOAT. 187 

wishes of the boy himself; his father, too, inclining to old feelings and 
old remembrances, earnestly desired to see his son a seaman in the 
Royal Service; but Mrs. Paulet could not endure the thoughts of 
parting with her only child, and as Will Buntliue had offered to take 
the lad as an apprentice, it was finally settled that he should be in- 
dentured to the sturdy waterman, who for straightforward dealing and 
unblemished character, was not to be surpassed. Harry consented to 
the arrangement, and the trim-built wherry was soon skilfully propelled 
by his youthful exertions. 

Old John continued to enjoy himself very comfortably, but he was 
not the man to save up money, so as to be enabled to bequeath 
something to those he should leave behind when death removed him 
from this sublunary world. In fact, his inveterate thirst (from h -ving, 
as he said, been so many years pickled in salt water) progressively 
increased ; and as advancing age dried up the current of his blood, 
he insisted upon there being a greater necessity for applying con- 
stant moisture to his clay, for the purpose of keeping it sticking 
together. It was in vain Mrs. Paulet scolded, remonstrated, or used 
entreaties — Will Buntline's earnest persuasions failed in effecting an 
alteration ; nor could James Trueman's advice produce any better 
consequence. Old Jack adhered to his practice on philosophical 
principles, and went on drinking till he had soaked himself into a 
dropsy — became a waste butt, and was so frequently tapped, that it 
was evident nothing could save him from his bier — in fact, after 
riding it out during several heavy swells, his anchors would no longer 
hold, and he began to drive for another world. As his end ap- 
proached, he was fully sensible of the change that was coming over 
him ; but he felt he had unflinchingly done his duty, as a seaman, to 
his King and country, and acted honestly and uprightly in all his 
dealings with his fellow-creatures, so he concluded that all other 
considerations were but of a minor nature, and his offences would 
meet with pardon from that benign, yet eternal Power, whose voice 
he had heard in the raging tempest, and whose foot-steps he had 
watched upon the dark waters. 

His friends were gathered round his hammock, awaiting the 
moment when the fine old seaman should be numbered amongst 
the clods of the valley — the wife mingling together endearing 
recollections of his past kindnesses, and reproaches to her own heart 
for ever having caused him pain — the boy, fully sensible that he 
was about to be bereaved of his father, but in the elasticity of his 
mind incapable of forming any just or correct idea as to what death 
really was. Will Buntline stood like a brave seaman at his gun 
when his messmate falls by his side ; he was fully prepared, should 
the next shot strike himself; James Trueman held the hand of the 
departing mariner within his own ; it was a pledge, a solemn pledge^ 
to the dying man, that protection would be afforded to his wife and 
child. 

" Molly," said he, turning his filmy eyes towards his weeping 
partner, " Molly, I am outward bound, my precious — I feel I am — 



188 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

but don't go for to take in a cargo of grief in bulk in that manner. 
Molly, we must all come at last to — to the end of our mortal cruise ; 
and here lie I, John Paulet, though now hove down for a full due ; 
yet, Molly, in the dark nights, when the stars of Heaven couldn't 
pierce through the gloom, and the howling gales have blowed their 
fiercest fury in my face ; when the red forked lightning has almost 
blinded me, and the pealing thunder has roared close to my ears, 
have I been swinging to and fro upon the topsail yard — death grin- 
ning in my teeth, and a yawning grave opening beneath me. Molly, 
I feared nothing then, for I had always done, and was still doing, my 
duty. And shall I shrink now that I feel that the enemy has grap- 
pled me, and know full well that I must strike to him ? No, Mrs. 
Paulet, no ; you have seen me weathering upon the breezes of life ; 
you shall see how calmly I will surrender to my conqueror. And 
who can justly throw reproach upon my name, except in regard of 
the small matter of a drop of grog, which I take to be as nat'ral to a 
seaman as the cm-rent of blood which ebbs and flows in his heart. 
Molly, your husband has been true to his colours — true to his King." 
He cast a side long glance at Trueman ; who, however, was too 
feelingly alive to the occasion, to manifest any outward signs of assent 
or dissent — " true to his country ; true to his friend, and true to his 
wife and child ; for the rest, I trust to the mercy of that Great Being 
whose searching eye has overhauled every thing as was ever logged 
down in my heart — -he made me a man — kept me honest and upright 
in my proper rating — and as the man he made me, so will I stand 
before him when I'm mustered." The veteran closed his eyes, and for 
a few minutes seemed absorbed in reflections on the past, or anticipa- 
tions of the future. He had laid so still and motionless, that Mrs. 
Paulet thought his spirit had departed ; and catching his hand, she 
sobbed forth, 

" John, John, my husband ! my best and dearest friend ! kind 
and indulgent have you been to me, and now I must lose you for 
ever !"' 

" No, my precious ; not for ever," uttered the seaman as he slowly 
unclosed his eyes ; " wheresomever I may be ordered to bring up in 
another world, there I hopes that some day you and the boy will be 
moored alongside of me" — he turned his look to Buntline — " Bill, 
you, I know, will act all fair and square by Harry, whom I have 
edecated to behave his-self and larn obedience to command. Friend 
Trueman, be kind to 'em both, for the sake of an old friend who will 
soon be stowed away under hatches. As for you, Harry, the thoughts 
of leaving you, is like clapping luff upon luff to bowse my heart out of 
me. But be a good lad ; hould fast by your mother, and do your duty 
to your King and country. What little property I have, Molly, is 
yourn, as in good right it ought to be. I got it honestly — I give it 
freely — saving and excepting the articles in the glass case as stands 
again the wall ; fetch it here, Harry." 

The lad promptly complied with the request, and during his short 
absence, the dying veteran remained tranquil and said nothing. When 



JOLLY EOAT. 189 

the case was put into his hands and he saw the call he had so proudly 
worn upon state occasions, it appeared to arouse old and pleasing 
reminiscences that revived the decaying vigour of his frame ; and as 
the winds of heaven sweep over expiring embers, producing a vivid 
brightness and a lucid flame, so were the eyes of the veteran lighted up 
with unusual brilliancy as the breath of thought refreshed his memory 
with scenes of the past achievements in gaining triumphant glory. 

" This call, Harry," said he, removing it from the case, " was the 
gift of Admiral Sir George Rooke, when we captured Gibraltar, in 
seventeen hundred and four — the chain I received from friend True- 
man, who I hope you will look up to as a father when I am dead and 
gone. It was in the height of summer, Harry — bright and beautiful 
summer, as we stood into the Bay — every man at his gun, and the 
dark rock frowning above us like a thunder-cloud lifting from the 
horizon. It was four o'clock in the afternoon when, being coxswain of 
the Admiral's barge, I landed about two mile from the town, and we 
marched on and took a battery of eight guns — there warn't much of 
fighting done — nothing like Cape la Hogue, or at Malaga, for the town 
surrendered, and I took Sir George ashore at the Mole, where a carriage 
was to be waiting for him, in regard of the gout not allowing his 
honour to walk ; but as we got to the place before the appointed time, 
there was no carriage to be seen, so the Admiral remained upon the 
cushions in the barge. It was drawing on for twilight, and there was 
a good many Spaniards lurking about, with devilry in their eyes and 
mischief in their hearts ; and so it happened, Harry, that my love for 
the Admiral made me more quick-sight than ordinary, for I saw a 
fellow at some considerable distance pointing his musket at Sir George. 
It would have been impossible to have got near him to prevent his 
firing, the danger was so momentary, and in consequence I made but 
one jump out of the box and covered the Admiral with my body, just 
as the wagabond of a Spaniard pulled the trigger ; the ball whistled, 
and came with a thud right in a midships, and I felt a strange tingling 
in my arm, which made me think he'd put in a double charge of shot ; 
at all events, I supposed myself mortally wounded, though I never said 
nothing." 

" ' My brave fellow,' says the Admiral, who was up to the move in 
an instant, ' you have saved my life ; for that ball must have been fatal — ' 

" ' In all due deference to your honour,' says I, ' it strikes me 
there's a brace of 'em — one in my body — though I can't say as I feel 
much of it — and another in my arm — but that's neither here nor there, 
seeing as your honour mustn't be backing and filling like a hog in a 
squall, after this no man's sort of a fashion. Them fellows mean mis- 
chief, and they'll be poking the shooting-stick at you again. So if I 
may be so bould as to advise your honour, it will be to get ashore as 
quick as possible ; for though I knows your honour would be the last 
to shrug your shoulder in fair fight, where you can get a slap at the 
enemy again, yet I sees no fun in being knocked off the perch in — ' 

" ' You are right, Paulet,' says he ; for he knowed me well enough. 
* Assist me to land — thev shall pay dearly for this treachery.' 



190 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

" ' He's got it, your honour,' says I, as I saw the Spaniard who fired 
roll down from the rock into the water, and heard the report of a 
musket on the shore. ' He's lost the number of his mess, any how ; 
the lads are keeping a sharp look-out, and that genelman has got his 
evening bath for nothing.' 

"Just then the carriage was hailed, and so the Admiral landed and 
took me with him, expecting every minute to be my last, but proud 
that I had saved my Commander. The first surgeon he could catch 
had me hove down for examination; and after stripping ship, and 
overhauling me from stem to stain, the doctor swore the only wound 
I'd got was in my arm, where he outs knife and cuts away, and drap-s 
down with his forceups this here bullet, flattened ezactly as you now 
see it ; and then I found that the ball had struck again the pummel of 
my pistol, so as to drive it with great force again my back, but 
glanced off into my arm ; it was for this, Harry, that Sir George, 
in the presence of the ship's company, gave me that call, which I 
now entrust to you. The gowld cross " — an ashy paleness overspread 
his haggard features, and he sank back for a minute or two utterly 
exhausted. 

" You are wearing yourself out, friend Paulet," said James True- 
man. " lie st, rest awhile; a little brandy, my good dame. Here, 
John, it will revive you." 

John took the stimulant, moistened his lips, and with great diffi- 
culty succeeded in swallowing a little ; he then feebly continued, 
"The gowld cross — but avast, avast, I haven't time to tell you — 
they're yours, Harry, yours my boy; never abandon your mother 
— re-member that — sew me up in my hammock — this — this hammock 
— I cannot have an ocean grave. Oh ! that I could behold the sea 
once more, and the sun dancing its bright rays on the white comb of 
the blue wave. Your hand, Harry," — the weeping lad did as he was 
requested. " Love and cherish your mother." 

" Indeed, indeed, father, I will never leave her," uttered the boy, 
and kissed the clammy hand he held ; " I will be a good and dutiful 
son to her." 

" I know — I know it, my child," said the dying man. " I take 
your pledge, Harry, and may the God of the widow and the orphan 
bless you. Strap on my wooden pin when I am gone ; I — I wouldn't 
like to enter the presence of the Deity with ownly one leg. My call, 
Harry — the call ; hand it here — here, my son. Molly, you — you 
have been a good wife to — to me ; so don't grieve." 

" Oh John, John ! what shall I do without you ! — you, who were the 
solace of my days ?" said the truly afflicted woman. 

" Take — take care of the — of the boy, my precious," uttered the 
departing veteran, as his fading sight rested on the bright silver call 
which Harry had given to him. He pressed it to his lips ; a faint smile 
lighted up his face as he tried to wind it ; he seemed to be muster^ 
ing all his latent energy ; a shrill sound rang through the apartment ; 
an hysterical, but low laugh, followed it ; again the chirp was heard — 
it was his last breath that raised it — -the glittering instrument fell 



JOLLY BOAT. 191 

heavily in his hand, and John Paulet was a corpse. It was thus that 
the veteran resigned existence and the Halfpenny Hatch together. 
His wishes and requests were strictly complied with, and 

"In ids "white hammock shrouded," 

his mortal remains were enclosed in an oaken coffin, and consigned to 
the dark home to which all are hastening. The funeral was attended by 
every one in the locality who knew him — wharfingers, coal-heavers, water- 
men, and many a pensioner from Greenwich, followed in procession- 
not a soul of the neighbourhood but was ready to pay a last tribute to 
his worth. 

After the decease of her husband, the widow still continued to 
keep the hatch ; her cottage was always beautifully neat and clean, 
and with Harry's earnings, and what she could pick up herself, con- 
trived to make out a decent maintenance ; so that the youth enjoyed 
a pleasant and comfortable home, and though his longing grew more 
and more intense to 

" Launch upon the ocean wave, 
! And battle with the foe." 

yet having promised to remain and be a protector to his mother, 
he strove to subdue them, and appear contented. But this was a 
very difficult task ; for there was a spirit of enterprise in the lad that 
was constantly prompting him to push out into the busy world, so 
as to gain an enlarged knowledge of mankind ; and this was mingled 
with ambitious aspirings to elevate himself from the humble condition 
of a waterman, to fame and rank and opulence. How this was to be 
effected, seldom entered into his consideration ; the end, but not the 
means, of attaining it, was ever present to his imagination. It made 
him impatient of restraint, but he nevertheless determined to fulfil 
the engagement he had entered into with his dying father, in which he 
was the more fixed by the mild remonstrances and unremitting kind- 
ness of his widowed mother. At the age of eighteen, Harry was a 
neat, dapper little waterman, singularly handsome in features, and 
though rather diminutive in stature ; yet his limbs were well set 
and his muscular development manifested a strength that was capable 
of enduring great fatigue. Pleasant, affable, and good-humoured, he 
was not only high esteemed by his compeers, but his cheerful manners, 
ready attention, and light-hearted smile, rendered him a great favorite 
with the citizens' wives and daughters, who frequently hired his boat 
for an excursion on the Thames, in order to while away an hour with 
the handsome young waterman. 



192 THE OLD SAILORS 



CHAPTEE IV 



" That which I shew, Heaven knows, is merely love, 
Duty and zeal to your unmatched mind, 
Care of your food and living : and, believe it, 
For any benefit that points to me, 
Either in hope, or present, I'd exchange 
For this one wish, That you had power and wealth 
To requite me, by making rich yourself." 

Shakespeare. 



It was on a beautiful evening towards the close of April, that Harry 
was seated on the steps of the landing-place near the Savoy Palace, 
and watching the descending sun as it gradually went down, encom- 
passed by a flood of glory that crimsoned all the west, and danced 
in brilliancy and light upon the sparkling waters of the flowing river. 
Near to him, and leaning over the stone balustrade, was an elderly 
man, arrayed in the loose flounced jacket and petticoat trousers of a 
waterman, whose eager gaze was bent in the same direction as that 
of the youth ; but whilst a smile of gratification played upon the 
features of the younger, a look of sorrow, mingled with anger, dark- 
ened the brow of the elder. The gorgeous luminary, encompassed 
with vermilion and purple and gold, gleamed with splendour through 
one of the arches of the new bridge then erecting at Westminster, 
but not yet thrown open to the public ; and the massive stone, as it 
broke and intercepted the dazzling glare, shadowed its grey duski- 
ness upon the waters, heightening the beautiful tints by the deepness 
of shade with which they were contrasted — the checkered variety was 
an apt emblem of human life. 

" It is a grand sight," said Harry to his elder companion, " and 
promises a returning bright day for us and for our labours." 

" To the eye of youth it may be grand," responded the other, rather 
sadly ; " but for my part, I cannot see much promise that it gives of 
brighter days. On the contrary, to my thinking, it forbodes ruin to 
our craft." 

" Well, now I cannot understand that," said Harry, warmly ; " to 
me it is most glorious, and well calculated to excite fervency of 
hope." 

" Glorious ! repeated the elder of the two, in a tone of half sorrow, 
half anger. " This is no time to talk of glory, boy. The masonry 
of the thing I will say nothing to the disparagement of — I w T ish it 
were not so strong. The arches are, no doubt, correctly thrown; 
but a flaw in the curve or each would be more desirable to my sight ! 
Glory, indeed ! — such glory as will bring us all to beggary — though 
what does it matter to me, who must soon be in my grave ? and why 
should I feel for them who have no feeling for theirselves ?" 



JOLLY BOAT. 193 

" What has angered you, good Master Buntline ?" uttered the 
youth, in the softened accents of conciliation. " I did not media to 
say any thing offensive ; especially to you, who have so often stood 
my friend ; I merely spoke of the beauty of the evening, and—" 

"Not of the bridge," said the veteran, interrupting him; "aye, 
aye, I see we have been at cross purposes, my lad. I was thinking 
of the many years I had enjoyed a long sight of the river, Harry; 
yes, a long sight, without those obstructions that now span the shores 
together, and render the stream like a destructive torrent. They will 
be sticking another below us before long, and then we may go and 
hang ourselves from the balustrade for any thing we shall get from 
the ferry. I tell you what it is, Harry ; the world is working itself 
out of joint, through the new-fangled notions of the people ; and what 
with their rebellion in the north for Prince Charles, or the Pretender, 
as they calls him — the launching of coaches, and the building of 
bridges, and such like, we shall soon have every thing capsized upside 
down, and there'll be an end to waterman." 

" But the rebels have been defeated, Daddy," returned the youth, 
endeavouring to soothe the old man's feelings. " Some of the leaders 
in the rebellion are in the Tower, and in Newgate; and the other 
prisons are crowded with captives, who will no doubt suffer death for 
their treason." 

" You will not talk so lightly about death when it comes near to 
yourself, Harry," uttered the veteran with solemnity ; " many have 
engaged in the rebellion, conscientiously believing they were right- 
men of courage and integrity, possessing high and noble minds ; 
some in the very prime of life, whose hearts are throbbing with warm 
affections for wives, and children, and kinsfolk. Yet they will all 
die upon the scaffold ; not so much for their crime, as to obtain 
greater security for the victors. Yes, Harry, they will be tortured to 
feast the revenge of their enemies. Man pours forth unmitigated 
vengeance ; God alone is merciful. Oh that I could save even one 
victim from the headman's axe, or the hangman's noose !" 

" It is in your power, old man, to do so," uttered a voice, so close 
to his ear that it made him start ; and turning suddenly round, he 
beheld, in the gathering shades of twilight, two persons whose faces 
were concealed by hoods thrown over their heads ; one was evidently 
a man, the other a female, beautiful in form and figure, which no 
studied or casual clumsiness of apparel could conceal. There was the 
silence of more than a minute ; Harry, who had not heard the appeal, 
gazed with surprise when the man continued, " I have either said too 
little or too much — too little, if I have failed to awaken your sympathy 
— too much, if you mean to betray my confidence,,' 9 

The veteran waterman gave a searching glance at the strangers 
during his hesitation, and then turning to his apprentice, said, 
" Shove in the wherry, Harry, here is a fare for us ; bear a hand, my 
son, before it is quite dark." He addressed the man in a confidential 
tone, " Come down the stairs, your honour, the boat will soon be in, 
and we will land you safely on t'other side without delay;" he added 
25 



194 THE OLD SAILOR = S 

in a lower key, "Do not fear me; I will neither betray, nor delude 
you." 

The youth speedily brought the wherry to the stairs, and as he 
assisted the female to embark, her features became exposed to view ; 
the faint crimson light of departing day tinged them with a glow of 
warmth which gave additional lustre to their loveliness, Her age 
could not be more than seventeen, and as Harry gazed upon her 
beauty with unrepressed admiration, her confusion was so great that 
she would have fallen into the river, but that the young man's strong 
arm upheld and conducted her to the seat ; in another minute the 
light bark was launched from the shore, and three more sufficed to 
gain the middle of the stream, 

" Well, Master Buntline," exclaimed the male stranger, in a voice 
that both the waterman and his apprentice instantly recognized ; " I 
have not, then, been deceived in you ; and I find, as I expected, that 
your honest heart can feel for the distresses and difficulties of others. 
I like proof — good and substantial proof — eh, Harry ? You must 
remember, in the Courts of Law, whither we have gone visiting 
together, the satisfaction which conclusive evidence brought to the 
Judge's mind. I have now tried it, Master Buntline ; for I think you 
did not know me at the time I applied for your assistance." 

" If this is nothing more than an experiment, your honour — that 
is, I mean Master Trueman," returned the veteran somewhat gravely, 
" then I think it might have been left alone, I do not like to be 
doubted ; though mayhap, in times like these, every man has a right 
to suspect his fellow. Easy, Harry, easy. I suppose your — that is 
Master Trueman, you wish to land at the ferry stairs." 

" Not just directly, my friend," said the passenger ; " row up- 
wards, and let us enjoy the sweet tranquillity of a lovely spring-tide 
evening." 

"This is not a spring tide, Sir," answered the veteran, " it is now 
the very dead of the neaps ; and— -" 

"I know it, Master Buntline," gaily responded Trueman; "my 
allusion was not to the waters, but to this delightful season of the 
year, w T hen the opening buds and bursting flowers resemble the 
revivals of hope in the human breast— and why should man ever 
despair ?" 

" There are some now in confinement, Master Trueman, on whom 
I'm thinking hope can never shed its light again," remarked the 
waterman. " However, though the trick you've played did anger me 
a bit at first, yet still I am rejoiced that you are not in reality so 
situated as to require my humble services." 

" Stop, stop ! or as you would say, avast ! my worthy friend," said 
the other sharply; "do not jump so readily to conclusions: for 
myself, and free, if danger did assume a threatening aspect, I fear 
no single arm; nor even two of those who may be brought against 
me. And your brave old father, Harry, saved me from four of their 
myrmidons, who would have sacked much gold had they secured their 
prize." He laughed. "Has all valour departed with the intrepid 



JOLLY EOAT. 195 

John Paulet ? No ; he left a gallant son, who will follow in the steps 
of his bold sire ; assist the helpless ; protect the defenceless ; be a 
friend to the friendless ; succour the oppressed ; respect and cherish 
innocence, and be true to his country. How say you, Master Bunt- 
line ; think you it will not be so ?" 

The youth's heart glowed with rich gratification as, lightly plying 
his oar, he listened to Trueman's remarks : and they caused the greater 
delight, as he beheld two bright eyes shining towards him — for there 
was still light enough to see. Feelings such as he had never before 
experienced stole over his senses ; they were new and strange to him 
— mournful, yet exquisitely pleasing. 

"Aye, aye, your honour, he is a good lad enough, " answered the 
veteran cheerfully, " and he does credit to our instruction ; I have 
no fear of his doing well. He is an affectionate and dutiful son to 
his mother,, and an attentive and obedient apprentice to me ; the only 
fault I have to find is, that he is prone to pick up the new-fangled 
notions that are getting abroad ; but mayhap it is merely the trick 
of youth, that maturer judgment will make all ship-shape again. Shall 
we shoot the arch ?" . 

This latter inquiry had reference' to' the new bridge, which they 
had now approached. James Trueman ga?ed earnestly up at the 
massive structure, and promptly answered, " No, no, Master Buntline ; 
we will shoot nothing to-night, not even a cat, if it can be prevented. 
But now return to the old landing place at Pedlar's Acre ; my young 
companion, here, requires secret shelter and matronly counsel, and 
who so well able to afford both, as the kind-hearted Mrs. Paulet ? 
I have not visited her for some time, it is true ; in fact, I have been 
so much engaged in my country journies, and delayed so long by the 
loss of several of my best pack-horses, that I have not had opportunity 
to visit my friends." 

Harry's joy increased in a tumultuous degree ; but why or where- 
fore, he could form not even the slightest conjecture. Nor did he 
experience this sudden enlargement of his heart's best feelings, till 
Trueman spoke of placing his young companion under the guardian- 
ship of John Paulet's widow ; for such she still was, though often 
solicited to change her name. 

" My mother, I am certain, -will be most happy to receive the 
young lady," said the apprentice ; " and I — yes, Master Trueman, 
I will do all in my power to make her comfortable in her home." • 

Nothing further was at that moment uttered aloud. The pack- 
man, in an under tone, spoke earnestly to the female, whose reply 
in whispers was not audible, but it was no difficult matter to ascer ■ 
tain by her sobs that she was in tears, and that Trueman was 
endeavouring to console and soothe her. In a short time they reached 
the King's Arms stairs, and drawing their cloaks around them, and 
concealing their faces beneath their hoods, they landed, and ascended 
the steps. Harry felt an earnest desire to accompany them, but old 
Will having directed him to moor the boat, and then follow him up 
to the Hatch, the youth -reluctantly complied ; it was the first time 



196 THE OLD SAILOR S 

he bad found the orders of his senior irksome. Nevertheless, he 
speedily executed his task, and was soon at the appointed place, for 
he ran rather than walked to the home of his nativity, With ill- 
repressed eagerness he opened the door, earnestly hoping again to see 
that face which had produced such fascinating influences over his 
mental faculties. He looked rapidly around, but he saw no one 
except Trueman and the waterman, who were seated at a round table 
with a lighted lamp between them, and as the rays fell upon the faces 
of both, it was easily to be perceived that something of no ordinary 
nature formed the subject of their conversation. A tear was trickling 
down the cheek of old Will. 

" Shall I disturb business by remaining ?" inquired Harry with 
respect. " I hope the young lady has sustained no harm." 

'■None; none, my lad," answered Trueman, "Her nerves are a 
little shook, poor thing, and she has retired with your mother." 

"As to disturbing business, Harry," observed the veteran water- 
man, "you are now arrived at an age to form something of a judg- 
ment for yourself; and, gave and except being a little too fond of 
new-fangled notions, you want nothing in 'cuteness to carry you 
through the world ; thanks to your good mother, Master Trueman, 
and myself." 

" Nay, nay, that is giving the lad no credit either for natural talent 
or good disposition," said the packman ; "and without the possession 
of these essential qualities, neither you nor I, nor any body else, 
could have made anything of him. Sit down, Harry— sit down, 
my lad ; the quick perceptions of youth are frequently more service- 
able than the slow deliberations of maturer years ; and the keen 
penetration of the one, combined with the cool discretion of the other, 
is the most like to effect good counsel. Draw your stool close, my 
boy." Harry did as he was requested. "We shall require your 
help in an important and perilous undertaking ; and therefore upon 
that ground, if upon no other, you ought to be admitted to our con- 
sultations — eh, Master Buntline ?" 

"The youth is passing well," returned the waterman; "you may 
place reliance on his word. Harry, my boy, you must have the boat 
unmoored and at the stairs by midnight ; we have work in hand that 
requires a clear head and a stout heart. That poor girl's father is a 
prisoner at the Tower— " 

"Then I will try and rescue him," exclaimed the youth, rising up 
impetuously, so as nearly to overturn the table ; " and I think I know 
the way to do it, too." 

" Not quite so fast, young friend," advised Trueman calmly ; " hot 
blood runs riot, and men's lives are seldom saved by over-haste, 
however zealous. Yet I like to see your spirit, and commend you for 
its tendency ; but beware of sudden irruptions, as they are apt to mar 
instead of mending matters. I must quit you now, as my presence 
is required elsewhere. Attend to Master Buntline's directions, and 
he will inform you of all that is necessary to know." He wished 
them " good night," opened the door, looked cautiously around, and 



JOLLY EOAT. 197 

then passing through the garden, followed by the waterman, they 
stopped for several minutes in low but earnest conversation at the 
Hatch, after which Trueman took his departure. On returning to 
the dwelling, Buntline addressed his young apprentice. 

" Now, Harry, remember to be ready by midnight. I must away, 
my son ; in good time you shall learn every thing — cherish your 
mother, and take care of the young lady." 

The veteran departed, and Harry sat alone, pondering upon what 
it all could mean ; yet were his thoughts chiefly engrossed by recol- 
lections of that lovely female face which he had seen, and the pleasing 
conviction that she was under the same roof with him. But he saw 
her no more that evening ; and though his mother was somewhat 
communicative when she joined him for a short time, yet the extent 
of her own knowledge was but contracted and imperfect ; and though 
humanity prompted her to succour the innocent child of misfortune, 
yet anxiety for the safety and welfare of her son induced her to doubt 
the propriety of the consent she had given to take the beautiful girl 
under her charge. Her father was an imprisoned traitor, and perhaps 
the shelter afforded to the outcast might bring Harry into trouble. 
The struggle, however, was not of long continuance ; humanity pre- 
vailed, and she resolved to act the part of a parent by the fair mother- 
less young creature who had been thrown upon her protection. 
Besides, she placed great reliance upon the counsel of Trueman, 
who had never advised unwisely, and was the sincere friend of her 
departed husband. 

Exactly at midnight Harry was at the stairs with the boat, Buntline 
appeared, and stept in on the instant, and without exchanging a word, 
the apprentice shoved out into the stream. Five minutes occupied in 
rowing with the last of the flood, took them beneath the overhanging 
trees that spread from the garden terrace of Northumberland House. 
Here they laid quiet for nearly half an hour, when two claps of the 
hands and a low whistle apprised them of the approximation of a third 
person ; the boat was pushed to the spot, and James Trueman mounting 
the parapet, swung himself by the branch of a tree into the wherry, 
which was again put in motion, and the rowers no longer remained 
inactive ; their vigorous arms propelled the fairy shell along, pro- 
ceeding down the river. 

The sky was overcast, and a dense gloom spread itself upon the 
waters ; not a star twinkled in the hemisphere, and no ray of light was 
visible, except here and there the faint gleams of a lamp, as it shed its 
dimness to direct the traveller to a house of entertainment. 

" Everything is in readiness, friend Buntlme," said James Trueman ; 
" the weather, too, is propitious. And now, Harry, you must under- 
stand that we are about to assist in the escape of a prisoner from the 
Tower. It is true, that we who bear such strict allegiance to the 
throne, and who are bound most rigidly to uphold the laws, might 
hesitate to adventure upon an undertaking that at first sight appears 
to be so treasonable and illegal ; but fear nothing, my boy — follow my 
counsel — the attempt is hazardous, I know, but who would not run a 



108 THE OLD SAILORS 

little risk to restore a parent to an only and motherless child ? — to save 
an honourable man from an ignominious end ? We can have no 
settled plan, but must be governed by circumstances. Harry, I am 
sure, whatever may be the danger, you will not shrink from grappling 
with it." 

" Never ! never ! " said the youth vehemently ; and then added, in a 
lower tone, "Nor have I come wholly unprepared" — he raised his 
voice ; " But may I ask who the person is that demands such peril in 
his service ? " 

"The name must for awhile remain secret," returned Trueman ; 
" but thus much I may say, it is the father of the fair girl now at your 
mother's dwelling." „■ 

" Enough — enough," said Harry with firmness ; " that alone is 
sufficient, and you will find me ready to perform all you may bid." 

Some further conversation ensued as the boat glided noiselessly 
along the " silent highway," without the slightest obstruction to impede 
her course (for there were then no intervening bridges between the 
new one at Westminster and that of„Loncjon), until they arrived at the 
narrow and heavily-burthened arches of Peter of Colechurch, where 
the overhanging houses that crowned them, looked frowningly down 
upon the dark rolling tide beneath. Improvements which could no 
longer be neglected, had removed some of the buildings, but there yet 
remained a confined street upon the bridge^ : uncomfortable to the 
inhabitants, and dangerous to passengers; and as Pennant described 
it, standing between sky and water, with immense beams of timber 
crossing from house to house, at their roofs, etc., "to keep them together, 
and from falling into the river. Nothing but use could preserve the 
repose of the inmates, who soon grew deaf to the noise of failing 
waters, the clamours of watermen, and the shrieks of drowning 
wretches." 

" We'll take one of the centre arches," whispered Buntline ; "pull 
out at once, Harry, and let us get clear of the in-draught of those 
abominable mills." The prow of the wherry was propelled in the 
required direction, but more to the Southwark than the city side. 
Those ancient structures, the water-wheels, were not in full play, for 
the tide of ebb had only just made down, and they moved but lazily 
round ; there was but little stir upon the bridge, and the accustomed 
roar was stilled into the usual silence of night ; still, the obstructed 
stream, gathering its weight and force, was beginning to rush through 
the apertures of escape, and the light boat flew rapidly beneath the 
vaulted arch, and was then whirled round by the eddies caused by the 
heavy buttresses. Above the bridge, the space upon the river was 
clear : no rising spars, no light tracery appeared against the face of the 
heavens ; the barges were moored at the wharfs, and the wherries at 
the several stairs. But now amidst the gloom, as far as the eye could 
reach, arose a forest of masts, with here and there the rays of a solitary 
light dancing upon the wild ripple, narrowing or expanding in the 
bubbling swell. 

" Hail to the memory of patriots, be they of whatsoever nation 



JOLLY BOAT. 199 

they may !" said Trueman emphatically, as he looked up to the gate 
of the Southwark entrance of the bridge, bristling, as it was, with 
spiked heads and bleaching skulls. " Wallace,* Fisher, More — the 
hero, the prelate, the statesman — valour, piety, learning— the lamp 
of life extinguished by the breath of jealous monarchs. Hallowed, 
be the remembrance of worth !" 

The voice of the packman, sonorous at all times, had risen to a 
higher pitch, in accordance with his warmth of feeling, and drew 
forth the remonstrance of the veteran waterman. 

" Not quite so loud, Master Trueman," said he ; " the errand we 
are on requires silence as well as caution. Pull in smartly, Harry, 
before the tide can sweep us down much lower than we ought 
to be." 

Both persons attended to the suggestions given, and the wherry 
keeping along the wharfs abutting from Tooley-street, shot swiftly 
down in her career. Across they could dimly perceive the lights in 
the casements of the Royal Tower, where many a sorrowing heart and 
aching head were passing the hours of the night in restless disquie- 
tude ; among whose possessors there w r ere more than one or two, 
having the days, and even the hours, of their future existence 
numbered. But the torches were quiescent — there was no flashing 
to and fro, to increase their brightness ; and except the wash of waters 
against the bows of the vessels in the tide-way, all was compara- 
tively still. When a short distance below Pickle Herring Stairs, 
old Bill uttered, 

" Now launch her quick athwart the tide, Harry ; our destination 
is the ' Iron Gate,' and we shall have to pull up a little way on the 
other shore." 

The wherry turned her beak from the wharfs, and shot swiftly in 
between two tiers of coasters, a voice from one of them solemnly 
uttering, as they passed beneath the projecting bowsprit, 

" God speed ye all, my masters three ; — may the aid of the blessed 
Trinity be yours." 

" I repeat the prayer again for you, my friend," responded True- 
man in a feigned tone, as the rowers ceased their labour for a minute. 
" Pray is the Lucky Endeavour laying out here in the stream ?" 

" The Lucky Endeavour must be nearer to the Tower, I'm think- 
ing," returned the man with emphasis. " May it prove so in the end. 
This vessel is the Narrow Escape, and I'm on the night-watch, look- 
ing out for squalls ; you will know where to find me." 

It was evident that the stranger, either by foreknowledge or by 
shrewd guess, had some inkling of their design ; but the wherry had 
run too far ahead for conversation to be renewed — and Buntliue and 
his apprentice had to use considerable vigour to keep from getting 
athwart the cables by which the craft were moored. In a few minutes 

* The head of the Scottish hero, Sir "William Wallace, is supposed to have been the 
first exposed to public gaze over the Southwark gate of London Bridge. There were 
sometimes not less than thirty heads stuck on spikes; and in 1535, Fisher, Bishop of 
Rochester, and Sir Thomas More, had their heads elevated to the same place,, 



200 THE OLD SAILOR S 

they were among the wherries off the Iron Gate Stairs, at the eastern 
precincts of the Tower of London. The gate itself, massive in its 
construction, but with a small wicket in the lower compartment, was 
closed. The boat was secured by its head-fast (all ready to slip at a 
moment's warning) at the stern of one of those that were attached to 
the landing. . 

"The signal will be similar to that which I gave," said the pack- 
man in a whisper. "The warders are on the alert, but the guard 
make sure of their charge, as to-morrow the Lords Kilmarnock and 
Balmarino are to suffer death ; yet our plan's well laid — and Harry, 
my boy, as Will Shakspeare says, 'Lend me your ears' — one victim 
shall be saved." 

" Speak not so presumptuously, Master Trueman," uttered the 
waterman in the same low tone. " We are but humble instruments 
in the hands of an Almighty power, and therefore — But hush ! the 
warders are challenging the rounds — the sentinels who come on duty 
will be more keen-sighted than the drowsy knaves whom they will 
relieve. Quick — lay yourselves at length in the bottom of the wherry, 
and utter no sound above your breath." 

The veteran set the example, and coiled himself away between the 
thwarts ; Harry did the same, and Trueman stretched himself abaft, 
drawing his cloak rather tightly round him. The challenges of the 
sentinels grew more loud and rapid— there was confusion on the 
Tower ramparts — the flambeaux were dashing about in all directions 
— warder was heard to cry to warder, and the words " Guard the 
gates ! " came with thrilling interest to the anxious watchers in the 
wherry. Suddenly the dark and massive walls were illuminated, 
and the glaring torches threw their fiercely renewed brightness upon 
the river, shadowing, in lengthened perspective, the heavy iron 
gratings of the openings that admitted light to the unfortunate 
prisoners ; it was evident that some unusual commotion was going 
on within, and the sounds of confusion, as well as the challenges of 
the warders, were frequently responded to hj loud laughs of derision 
from among the vessels that were out in the broad stream of the 
river. 

" Doubtless we have friends at hand," whispered Trueman ; " now 
would I give a purse of gold pieces to have yon gigler by my side. 
But, hark ! there are sounds of oars ; yon merry echo to a noisy rout 
will be for ever silenced if they find his whereabouts." He looked 
out. " The tumult is increasing ! some prisoner is missing ! pray 
Heaven it be my friend ; though to save any one would be gratifying 
to my heart !" Again he raised his head, and whispered rapidly, " Be 
on the alert, old man ; I see them now, they are royal barges. One of 
them is steering in this direction : another is heading to the tiers ; 
there is a third, but that, I believe, is pulling up towards the bridge, 
though I cannot w r ell distinguish which way she wends her course. 
Stir not for your lives ! " 

It was as Trueman conjectured ; three royal barges, redolent of 
flambeaux, that shed a broad red light upon the rushing river, pushed 






JOLLY BOAT. 201 

out from the landing to Traitor's Gate ; the waters, brightened by the 
glare of torches, reflected on their surface the sturdy figures of the 
yeoman of the guard, who each, with partisan and sword, stood ready 
to immolate the fugitive : for it had not many minutes before been 
discovered by the gaolers that one of the state criminals had escaped 
from durance, and an immediate search and pursuit commenced ; the 
barges ranging themselves to different stations, in order to examine 
every thing that was moving on the Thames, so as to prevent a safe 
retreat by water. One boat approached the wherries at the very 
moment that two claps of the hand, and a low whistle, were heard at 
the wicket of the Iron Gate. 

" It is the signal," whispered Trueman, as he disengaged himself 
from his cloak, and drew a brace of small pistols from his girdle. 
" Now, my brave fellows, is the time to act like men. Here, Harry, 
is the key of yon wicket, and take my pistols for self-defence. Master 
Buntline knows what to do, for I have scant time to tell you now ; 
and Will, do not forget the place of rendezvous. I must entice the 
bloodhounds from their track. There is no alternative ; and though 
it is not the most pleasant time of night to take a bath, yet it is the 
only means of saving him." The signal was repeated. " Ha ! there 
again — his foes must be on the trail — they cannot be far from his rear. 
Yet wait, Bill, till I have seduced these gentlemen to follow me ; then, 
Harry, dash ashore, open the wicket without the delay of an instant ; 
pass the person who you will see there through ; close and lock the 
wicket again ; and then, let your quick mind be governed by circum- 
stances. Be vigilant, and so — good night." 

Whilst Trueman was uttering this, the guard boat was slowly 
drawing near, and those within her held loud converse with their 
comrades on the land, and the sound of their voices mingled with 
the shrill laugh of mockery from the ships. Harry fixed his eager 
gaze upon the packman, who suddenly sprang upright in the wherry, 
and became a conspicuous object to the people in the barge. 
Although the glance was only momentary, the young apprentice 
perceived that his late father's friend was habited very differently to 
his usual costume ; for he wore a soft leather dress, that fitted close 
to his body, without confining or cramping a single limb. He stood 
for a brief space exposing himself to view, then as the diver-bird 
plunges beneath the wave, he made one spring, and whilst the shouts 
of the pursuers (who had seen him) rung in the air, he dashed into the 
yielding element that opened to receive him. 



26 



202 THE OLD SAILOR'S 



CHAPTER Y. 



lt Things, done well, and with a care, exempt themselves from fear: 
Things, done without example, in their issue are to be fear'd." 

****** 

44 Treason is but trusted like the fox ; 
Who, ne'er so tame, so cherish'd, and lock'd up, 
Will have a wild trick of his ancestors." 
****** 

" Soft pity enters at an iron gate." 

Shakespeare. 



We left the royal guard-boat in hasty pursuit of James Trueman ; 
and well was it for hini that the mists hung heavy on the waters, and 
the flambeaus carried by the soldiers served rather to dazzle and 
bewilder their own sight than illumine the track of the fugitive — 
fire-arms were discharged by the pursuers, the smoke from which 
increased the obscurity ; and the gallant packman striking out somewhat 
across the tide, but still yielding to its downward stream, swam or 
unscathed towards the vessels moored in the tiers, whilst loud shouts 
of derision from one place, and exclamations of encouragement from 
others, directed Trueman to the spot he most desired to gain. 

" The varlet is here ! " roared out a sturdy yeoman, as the boat's 
nose struck against something in their passage. " By the blessed 
Saints I have him now ! " and throwing half of his body over the 
bows, he firmly grasped a solid substance that was bobbing about in 
the current ; the next instant he was jerked from his position into the 
river, for he had caught hold of a small anchor-buoy, and the impetus 
of the barge was too strong to be resisted. The unfortunate wight 
went under, but soon arose again, and roared out lustily for help, 
which his comrades, by backing their oars, promptly afforded him ; 
but it was not till he had gone down and rose a second time, that they 
succeeded in hauling him on board, more dead than alive, from the 
fright he had received and the ducking he had undergone. This 
mishap, by retarding the pursuit, not only proved of great service to 
James Trueman, but the confusion caused by it drew off the attention 
of those in the barge from what was passing ashore. Harry watched 
his opportunity, and springing up with all the activity of youth, he 
stept lightly but nimbly from wherry to wherry, then leaping forward 
he descended nearly up to his middle in water : without a moment's 
delay he gained the shore, just as the person who was waiting for 
rescue, finding his signal unanswered, was about to depart. The 
youth slightly whistled ; the stranger uttered a low exclamation of 
gladness ; and Harry, bounding up the steps, applied the key to the 
lock of the wicket at the very instant that the glare of torches burst 
through the heavy arch of the Tower gates nearest to them, which had 
been thrown open to allow of egress to an armed band, who were 



JOLLY BOAT. 203 



ordered to scour along the banks of the river in that neighbourhood, in 
order to arrest the escaped prisoner. 

For a few pulsations a tremor shook the hand of the waterman's 
apprentice and rendered it difficult for him to fix the key ; but the 
voice of the imploring stranger re-assured him, and steadily turning 
the key in the lock, the bolt flew back, the wicket was opened, and 
the stranger darted through the space, but not till the party issuing 
from the unfolded portals had caught sight of them ; and hurrying 
forward, with loud demands and denunciations, commanded them to 
surrender. But the wicket was again closed and locked, and Harry 
and his companion rushed down the steps, the former leading the way, 
and wading off to the wherries, had gained the first when the guard 
fired upon them through the Iron Gate ; the stranger uttered a low 
murmur of pain, but held on his course till they reached the boat, in 
which the veteran Buntline still laid between the thwarts. 

" Down — down " — said the old man in an under tone ; " the other 
barges are pulling in this direction, and though the smoke from the 
shore has obscured you on that side — and ah me, I fear they have 
picked up his honour — that is, I mean James Trueman — by the 
skrimmaging afloat, yet they will be down upon us directly, and unless 
we are especially favoured, nothing can save us from capture. Are you 
wounded, Harry ? " he inquired, in a tone blending bitterness and 
commiserating anxiety, as the youth and his companion crouched to 
escape observation. " I thought I heard someut like a groan, and 
even now these old ears are not deaf to the thud of a musket ball." 

'• Safe — safe, father " — answered the lad quickly ; " but I think the 
—the—" 

" Ay, ay, I know what you would say," returned the waterman, 
*' but his worship has run more risks in the battle-field." He mur- 
mured to himself as he raised his head, " would it had been in a 
better cause ! Yes, yes — they're coming on all tacks — the gates are 
thrown open — their torches gleam upon the river — it will not do to 
lay idly here and be grappled with like rats in a trap, and yet which 
way to move I cannot tell. Look out, Harry, to slip, or we shall 
have but a sorry account to send to your mother and the young 
lady." 

The name of his only parent came with some degree of anguish to 
the young man's ear, but it was only momentary ; for the allusion to 
the lovely girl whose father he conjectured to be then with them, 
aroused him to renewed vigour, as he responded : " Do not give me 
one thought, Master Buntline — I will save him, or die for it — I am all 
ready for slipping whenever you give the word." 

The scene on the Thames was, at this moment, particularly exciting 
—lights were vividly flashing on the shore, and throwing their ruddy 
hues deep into the mist ; the flambeaus in the approaching row-boats 
glistened broadly on the stream, mingling their rays with those on 
land ; the firing had aroused the inhabitants of the venerable bridge, 
and almost every window displayed a glimmering lamp ; the vessels in 
the tiers exhibited their lanterns, moving to and fro ; but still there 



204 THE OLD SAILOR S 

was a dimness caused by the smoke from the firelocks that hung like a 
pall over all, except near the surface of the river, where, becoming in 
some measure attached to and reclining upon the current, was carried 
away with the downward tide. Yells and shouts of derision still 
continued to arise from the Southwark side, and were answered or' 
echoed from the opposite shore. Stray shots were fired from various 
points at the pursuers, who seemed to be much distracted by such 
unexpected demonstrations of treason. 

" Hold fast, Harry," whispered the veteran waterman, as he dragged 
his length over the gunwale of the boat, and with the same caution 
reached the bows of the wherry by which the rest were moored — his 
knife was in his hand, and with one powerful effort he separated the 
cable by which they were held, so as to set the whole adrift, as several 
men from the landing-place were wading through the water to approach 
them — the buoyant vessels, no longer restrained by the anchor, yielded 
to the force of the tide, and were soon beyond the reach of the 
advancing guard ; but notwithstanding his care, old Bill had become a 
conspicuous object, and bullet after bullet whistled through the air, 
both from the barges and the enraged soldiers at the stairs. The 
apprentice saw instantly the design of his master, and jumped with 
alacrity to aid his efforts — their sharp instruments were promptly at 
work — the wherries were parted from each other, and nine or ten were 
lauched athwart the stream. This accomplished, Buntline regained 
his own, trusting that Harry would follow him : but the youth had 
stumbled, and to his great vexation the old man discovered, on his 
wherry being clear of the rest, that he was alone with the stranger, 
who was stretched out motionless along the bottom. Not an instant 
but was most precious ; the veteran threw out his sculls, and with a 
strength that could be but little anticipated from his \ears, propelled 
his sharp vessel onwards, leaving his apprentice he knew not where. 

Loud shouts filled the air as the royal barges detected this manoeuvre, 
for now the persons who manned them made sure of securing their 
prize, and the sturdy boatmen bent to their oars with redoubled vigour. 
The cheers were reiterated by the disappointed soldiers at the stairs, 
who urged their comrades on. Old Will drew fast ahead, but he 
missed the aid he had been accustomed to receive, and his heart 
sickened at the absence of one whom he loved as his son ; still he 
relaxed not a nerve, but put forth his best exertions, well knowing that 
life or death would be the issue. The royal boats neared him fast, but 
the drifting wherries, freed from restraint, had got athwart the tide, 
and being spread where the channel became narrowed by the tiers in 
the stream, and the coal-barges on the strand, opposed a confused 
impediment to the pursuers, who not only got entangled with them, 
but also with each other; whilst the hardy waterman, though repeatedly 
fired at, held on his way elated with hope, and pretty confident of 
success. 

The boat, however, which had followed James Trueman, had kept 
outside of the tiers, on the northern shore, and was nearly in the 
middle of the river. Finding that further pursuit of their fugitive 



JOLLY BOAT. 205 

would be unavailing, they rowed briskly down the stream, in order to 
cut off the waterman's retreat ; but happily for him, on trying to cross 
between the craft as they laid at their moorings, the tide carried them 
athwart the cables, and old Will once more gained the start, but on 
coming abreast of Horsely Down, he turned his bows towards the 
southern side, and shot rapidly across, so as to entirely baffle those who 
had so hardly pressed him. Here concealed in St. Saviour's dock, the 
veteran waterman laid in his sculls, and rested from his unusual labour. 
He remained still and silent for a few minutes, and then addressed the 
individual whom he had rescued ; but no answer was returned. Pie took 
hold of the hand that laid upon the stranger's breast : it was cold and 
clammy — and Buntline soon ascertained, that though life was not 
extinct, the man was wounded, and had fainted. 

Sorely perplexed, the veteran seemed to have escaped from one 
trouble only to fall into another ; he raised the inanimate stranger, 
sprinkled water in his face, and whilst thus engaged, his ears caught 
the sound of oars dipping in the tide at no great distance from him. 
At first it excited feelings of apprehension and alarm, but these 
partially subsided as the idea that it might be his apprentice presented 
itself. Nevertheless he resolved to act with caution, and laying down 
the wounded man, he stretched himself by his side. Scarcely had this 
arrangement been accomplished, when a small skiff, rowed by one 
habited as a seaman, rubbed against the wherry, and old Will heard a 
voice, as it uttered in a reckless off-hand way, 

" So, so, my friends ; a rough hammock have you chosen for your 
watch below, though I'm thinking it is but a nigger's sleep — one eye 
shut and the other open — after all ; so rouse out, Master Buntline, 
and tell us the news." 

" I have been hailed by that tongue before, to-night," said the 
waterman, as he rose up, " and should know it to belong to one who 
does not wish me evil ; but years have blunted the keen edge of 
memory, and the night is too dim to make sure of your person. How- 
ever, I am satisfied you are no enemy." 

" W T hat ! no enemy to those who steal away the king's prisoners 
that are appointed to die ? " laughingly responded the man in the 
skiff. " Do you think that I'm a traitor, like yourself? " 

" Traitor is a hard word to throw at him who has fought and bled 
for his country," answered Will, as he essayed to raise his prostrate 
companion. " But traitor or no traitor, here is enough to excite the 
compassion even of a foe — which I believe you are not — the man, 
mayhap, is bleeding his life away." 

" Eh ? what? wounded ? " exclaimed the other, as springing from 
his skiff, he leaped into the wherry, and assisted Will to lift the 
stranger on to the thwart. "There! handsomely, handsomely," con- 
tinued he ; " get a better purchase, old man ; and now just shore him 
up whilst I administer a cordial, which if he had swallowed a little 
more of in the field, would have given hirn strength and spirit enough 
to have eluded his adversaries ; but he was ever self-willed." He 
drew a flask from his jacket pocket, and applied it to the stranger's 



206 THE OLD SAILORS 

lips. " There, there, lay back his head a little more, so that it may 
slip down easy. Ay, ay, I see you smell the stuff, Will ; it shall be 
your turn next, my hearty. All right, he is gulping the brandy 
down ; it will soon revive him. Well may the French call it eau-de-vie, 
for assuredly it is as the water of life to the faint and weary. But 
where is he wounded, Will? " 

" I have not yet discovered the whereabouts," responded the water- 
man ; " but he has bled freely, as the bottom-boards of the wherry give 
sad evidence." 

" He must not remain here, old man," said the last comer, with 
more feeling than he had at first evinced; " it will be but a poor 
satisfaction merely to bury him with his head upon his shoulders ; 
and that fair girl, too, after all the risks we have run, to bear home 
to her a dead father. Oh, no ; no, Will Buntline, I say it will never 
do; we must save him — by Heaven we must." The wounded 
man gave indications of returning sensibility — a shuddering came 
over his frame — he gasped for breath, and smacked his lips. " To 
be sure, to be sure," continued the skiffs-man, his habitual demeanour 
returning, " another drop of the elixir, eh ?" 

Again the flask was applied to the stranger's mouth, but with 
greater caution was the fluid dispensed. 

" It stems to do him good, shipmate," said Buntline. " But pray 
can you afford me any information as to the fate of James Trueman ? 

" What the Staffordshire packman ?" rejoined the other, after 
taking a pull at the brandy himself, and then handing it to Will. 
*' Drink freely, my worthy ; I have the sister to that flask in the 
other pocket of my jacket — a regular nor-wester — that's it. Why 
as for James, he is always thrusting his nose into every fire — " 

" Not to-night he did n't," said Will, interrupting him ; " he 
jumped overboard to draw them off the true chase, and the water 
arn't quite so hot as a furnace." 

" But they fired at him from the boat," responded the skifTs-man, 
" My eyes how he cut along, like an albacore after a flying-fish ; but 
I fear he turned the turtle, and went down." 

" Now Heaven forbid!" ejaculated old Will with solemn fervour; 
" he was a true and trusty friend, as well as a boon companion. I 
could ill afford to lose one whom I so manfully esteemed ; though 
woe is me, I fear there is another remaining in jeopardy who is still 
more dear to this old heart. Harry, my poor boy, what has become 
of you ? and how can I ever face your afflicted mother again ?" 

" There, there, don't grow maudlin, old man," said he of the skiff; 
" our messmate of the brandy, here, is reviving. Hurry ashore, 
and see if there is any conveyance at hand. Pass into the town street, 
at the head of the dock ; there should be some one waiting with a 
vehicle, for this place was appointed as the first rendezvous \ was it 
not so r " 

" It was," returned Buntline. 

" And well you have performed your duty, old boy," continued 
the other warmly ; " I honour and respect you for it. Now bear a 



JOLLY EOAT. 207 

hand to the wharf, and do as I bid you. Remember, three claps of 
the hand, to be answered by a whistle. You understand me, for you 
have heard them more than once already ; and mind me, should 
there be any delay, utter the words, ' The axe is sharp.' Haste ; 
haste ; we soon shall have the daylight breaking-, and this would be a 
pretty spectacle for the public gaze. Saw ye not the flashing torches 
upon the Tower Hill, to light the workmen in erecting the scaffold for 
execution ; and do you demur now ? " 

The waterman had at first hesitated to comply, but the voice of his 
companion, as he proceeded, assumed a tone of irresistible command, 
as if emanating from one who had been accustomed to be obeyed. 
Will had been informed by James Trueman that the plan of escape had 
numerous ramifications, and that several influential persons of the rebel 
party had at great risk engaged in it. The veteran had also recognised 
the voice to be that of the individual who had hailed them from a 
coaster, on their first crossing the Thames from the south shore towards 
the Iron Gate, with " God speed ye all, my masters three ; may the aid 
of the blessed Trinity be yours " (as already recorded) ; and he had no 
doubt that the man was not only well acquainted with the whole plot, 
but most probably had watched his proceedings, and followed him to 
where he was. These things passed with the usual rapidity of thought 
through Buntline's mind, and he no longer delayed to execute the 
bidding of his companiou. 

" I rely upon you," said the old man, as he stood erect in the 
wherry ; " for the sake of that dear child I have heard you mention, 
be tender of her father's life." 

" You have seen her, then ? " demanded the other impetuously ; 
" and possibly may know whither she has fled for refuge." 

" Both ; both," responded Buntline : "it was but yester afternoon 
she sat where you are seated now. I will tell you all when I return, 
but time is too precious to be wasted in mere words. I must bring the 
conveyance here ? " 

" To be sure, to be sure," assented the other quickly ; " and there's 
a worthy soul, lose not an instant. I sacrifice much by not detaining 
you, that I may hear your narrative." He murmured with undisguised 
tenderness of manner, quite at variance with his usual mode, " Sweet 
Maude ; may the holy angels be your guard ! " A short pause, and he 
resumed in his rough speech, " Come, bear a hand, old man ; but here, 
take another nip of the aqua mirabilis," tendering him the flask, 
M before you trip your anchor." 

The waterman complied, and after swallowing a tolerably fair 
dram he climbed the side of the vessel next to the quay, and landing 
on the wharf, quickly acted in obedience to the instructions he had 
received. The morning was dark and gloomy, and the fog thickened 
as the day approached. Silence the most profound held dominion in 
every direction; there were no lamps to guide the footsteps aright. 
The muddy purlieus of Shad Thames were involved in the very 
blackness of a dungeon vault ; but old Will was too intimate with 
the neighbourhood to mistake his way, although he frequently stumbled 



208 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

over obstructions that were carelessly left in the path, and more 
than once floundered in the deep ruts made by the wheels of heavy- 
laden waggons. No living thing was to be seen ; a murky frown 
of dreariness and desolation seemed to have fallen on all around. 
But the veteran had been accustomed in the thickest of darkness 
fearlessly to traverse the pathless ocean, where treacherous planks 
might yield to the pressure of the raging seas, and send them into 
eternity ; where rocks and shoals abounded, and the roaring elements 
conspired to pour forth their wrath upon the heads of the devoted 
and doomed mariners. He experienced no dismay for himself, but 
he could not refrain from feelings of alarm relative to the fate of 
his apprentice Harry, and it was in this state of mind that Buntline 
emerged upon the highway now called Dockhead — to the town of 
Rotherhithe. He looked upwards and downwards ; no soul appeared 
in view, nor was there a sound to break the monotonous stillness. 
He clapped his hands loudly three times ; but no whistle responded 
to the signal, and then he traversed to and fro for several minutes. 

At length the noise of carriage wheels attracted his attention ; the 
heavy tread of horses' hoofs were heard ; and in a short time, a small 
low sort of coach drove up towards the place where old Will was 
standing. In appearance, when seen through the gloom, it bore 
some resemblance to a burial-hearse, and the waterman was about 
to let it pass on, but fancying there could be no harm in giving the 
signal, he did so, and awaited the issue. The driver continued his 
course, apparently without noticing the waterman, but he commenced 
whistling 

" Charley is my darling" — 

and though it grated on the veteran's ears, still he hoped to find that 
this was the conveyance which he had been sent to seek. The notes 
of the song were not, however, those he had expected to hear as the 
reply to his communication, and he doubted whether he should 
speak further ; but the emergency of the case urging him, he walked 
forward, and again clapped his hands. 

" Good morrow to you, my master," said the driver, pulling up his 
steeds so as to decrease their pace. " It is well we have no audience, 
or you might get clapped in the stocks for applauding so traitorous 

a tune as " Again he whistled, though not so loud as before. 

" You know it no doubt ; and heads will be dancing to the music 
before many hours have winged their flight away." 

" It is but too true," responded Buntline, travelling onwards slowly 
by the side of the animals. "The axe is sharp." 

" Say you so, my master," exclaimed the driver in an under- tone, 
" but you are not he whom I expected to behold." 

" You are right again," replied the waterman ; " but haste — turn 
thy vehicle down Shad Thames — you will find him there, though 
sorely wounded. 

" He is safe, then," returned the driver ; "for that thank Heaven — 
and his wound — " 



JOLLY BOAT. ^09 

•* Of that I cannot tell you," answered Bill. " And now I think 
of it, your craft would never be able to work a traverse in the place 
Tve named ; remain here, and as the tide will still allow us, I will 
shove the boat right up to the dock-head where you shall receive 
him. Await, then, at the stairs, and remember that ' the axe is 
sharp.' " 

The man gave a shrill whistle, and in accordance with his own 
proposal, the veteran waterman returned as speedily as possible the 
way he had come ; he hurried over the wharf — descended the coaster's 
side into his wherry — but the skiff, and he who had rowed it, as well 
as the wounded stranger, was gone, and no traces of them could be 
discovered. He did not dare to shout, lest he might arouse enemies 
as well as announce himself to friends. He clapped his hands, but 
there came no reply, and conjecture as to the cause of their disap- 
pearance was utterly at fault. Blaming his own blind confidence 
in one of whom he knew nothing, the old man, after a brief delay, 
once more sought the shore, and hastened, as fast as circumstances 
would allow, to re-join the driver of the carriage, to whom he pur- 
posed imparting the strange departure of the expected passenger. 
Several minutes elapsed before he reached the spot where he had 
left the vehicle, aud when he did approach it, he found a vacant 
space ; the whole had vanished, and he stood alone. 

"Can this be witchcraft?" murmured he to himself. "Are all the 
fiends abroad to-night to vex and torment poor old Bill? But I 
must not loiter here ; the wherry must be cleared out. I have be- 
friended others, and now it is but right that I should look to my own 
safety ; the blood upon the thwarts would tell a strange and unnatural 
story, and true it is ' the axe is sharp.' " Having thus said, he 
retraced his steps to his boat. 

Return we to Harry, who was left in the drifting wherries as they 
dropped down with the tide. — The moment he had ascertained his 
position he laid himself at length, and in the hurry and confusion of 
pursuit, escaped the notice of the royal barges. The wherry he was 
in was well in-shore, and when they became jammed in the narrow 
passage already described, he dexterously contrived to scramble un- 
observed into a coal-barge, where he remained till nearly day-break 
and quiet was restored; he then got upon the land, and hastened 
with hurried steps and distressed spirit towards Tower Hill. 

Painful had been the lad's ruminations whilst laying in his place of 
concealment — uncertain as to the fate of his master, and the father 
of that fair girl who had taken such strong hold of his regards — he 
thought, too, of his mother's tender solicitude for his welfare, and the 
bringing of her grey hairs with sorrow to the grave, should anything 
happen to him. But with these came also the elasticity which the 
enchantress Hope affords to the human mind, especially in youth. 
The picture, though gloomy in the foreground, brightened in the 
distance; the valley was in deep shade, but sun-light gilded the 
summit of the hills. 

Although so early, hundreds were astir, and hurrying to the place 

Li 



210 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

of execution, :<,nci Harry at length got so completely enveloped in the 
crowd as to be borne along in the same direction, By his side walked, 
or rather was carried by the pressure, an aged man, in humble attire, 
who requested permission to lean for support on the youth's arm. 
Ever attentive to persons in declining years, he promptly complied, 
and in a short time they were jammed in among so dense a mass of 
human beings, that they were utterly incapable of locomotion. Nearly 
fronting them was the house into which the prisoners were to be taken 
previous to decapitation, and they were sufficiently close to perceive 
all that was passing in that locality. 

As the morning advanced the multiutde kept increasing — platforms, 
that had been erecfed from the windows of the houses, were densely 
thronged — every roof was literally covered by spectators — the yards 
and rigging of the vessels in the river, commanding a view of the scene, 
displayed a rising succession of human heads, all eager to witness the 
appalling spectacle. 

" A fearful sight will this be," falteringly said the venerable man 
who had thrown himself under the youth's protection. " What could 
toave tempted you hither to behold it?" 

''Mere accident, my good father," replied the apprentice. " I had 
do intention of being present." 

" The shedding of blood cannot be a gratifying contemplation for 
Any one," continued the other ; " and yet, look at the many thousands 
who surround us. There is something terrible in this hum of human 
voices." 

" May I with all due respect inquire why you, who have numbered 
so many years and are feebly bending beneath the weight of infirmities, 
should thus expose yourself to difficulty and danger ?" asked Harry. 

"There's reason, much reason in the question," replied his com- 
panion ; " I served with Lord Balmarino in my younger days — he was 
ever a brave man — and I have wished to see the last of him. One of 
the rebels, I am told, gave his gaolers the slip in the darkness of the 
night. Say, my son, is it sooth?" 

"We did our best. That is — really I have heard no more of the 
matter than yourself," stammered Harry, but his embarrassment 
seemed to pass unheeded. 

" Report hath finished the career of one man, who is said to have 
lost his own life whilst endeavouring to rescue that of his friend," 
remarked the aged speaker. " Hath it been thus told to thee ?" 

" No, no," answered Harry, whose thoughts instantly reverted to his 
gallant friend the packman. " I trust it is not so ; but of what death 
did he die?" 

" Alas ! alas ! I hear that he was drowned," responded the other. 
" He was advanced in years ; clad in a close-fitting suit of leather ; at 
least, so say the dispensers of the news." 

The youth listened with great attention, and could come to no other 
conclusion than that his kind friend, the honest packman, was no more. 
A heavy weight seemed to be pressing upon his heart — a weight of 
seal grief — nor could he repress a convulsive sob that shook his whole 



JOLLY BOaT. 21 L 

Frame. The old man appeared to be unconscious of the effect he had 
produced, though, from some cause or other, his pressure upon the 
young waterman's arm seemed tighter and heavier. 

"May he find rest in heaven!" uttered the apprentice in an under- 
tone — "he is at least beyond the reach of enemies ; and yet I shall 
sadly feel the loss, for he was a second father to me." 

Notwithstanding the noise which surrounded them, and that Harry 
scarcely spoke aloud, the quick ear of his companion must have caught 
some of the words ; for he promptly observed, 

"You know him, then, my son ?" 

" I fear it is even so," returned the youth, as he shook with emotion. 
" Can I not get away from here ? this is no place for me." 

" The thing is utterly impracticable," said his aged companion ; 
" every portion of the ground is entirely blocked up, and you can 
behold nothing but a long flat of heads and greasy faces. Oh, how the 
rogues luxuriate in the promised banquet of human sacrifice ! and 
they would do the same were the neck of the Royal German to be 
fitted to the block. These are strange times, my son ; may heaven 
mend them, and keep us all safe from harm !" 

" I wish you had not brought me here," exclaimed the youth some- 
what angrily. " Desire to serve you has led me astray. I had other 
and more sacred obligations to perform — " 

" A mother, maybe — or perhaps a younger female, who holds a more 
powerful sway over your actions — one or both are probably expecting 
your return from some undertaking involving peril," remarked the old 
man with seriousness. " Theirs must be moments of keen anxiety ; 
but remember, deeds of daring merit the approbation of the fair." 

The words thus uttered were so exactly in unison with the young 
man's feelings, that he started as if echo was repeating his very 
thoughts. 

" How — what is this ?" he exclaimed. " Is it by mere accident, or 
by design, you thus speak to me ? If the former, let it rest ; if the latter, 
then avow yourself for friend or foe. I am no child, to suffer banter ; 
and it scarcely comes within the character of a friend to use it." He 
tried to withdraw his arm from his companion's grasp, but it was held 
too firmly to be effected without violence. " Nay, nay, continued 
Harry, " I must, I will be satisfied, despite the thousands who now 
press upon us ; so do not urge me to be desperate." 

The apprentice struggled to get free, but his arm was clutched as by 
the fingers of a giant ; a commotion arose in the crowd near them, and 
revilings and even blows were exchanged, whilst the eyes of all above 
were drawn towards the scene of strife. The young man still strove 
to free himself from the grasp that held him — but suddenly he became 
perfectly still and passive — a voice had reached his ear alone. It came 
from the aged companion who clung to him ; it was the mere utterance 
of his name, but its effect was magieal — for Harry, in an instant, knew 
that his seemingly venerable associate was none other than James 
Trueman himself. 



211 THE OLD SAILOR'S 



CHAPTER VI. 



"He died 
As one that had heert studied in his death,. 
To throw away the dearest thing he loved 
As 'twere a careless trifle/' 

u Hold the world but as the world, 
A stage, where every man must play his part." 

Shakespeake. 



As soon as the travelling packman, known as James Trueman, became 
revealed to our young friend Harry Paulet, the waterman's apprentice, 
the mind of the latter quickly recovered its accustomed serenity ; and 
the throng, finding order restored, merely upbraided " the young 
rascal for being so undutifully rough with his grandfather." Other 
matters attracted attention ; and except the vociferations and busy hum 
of so many thousand voices, only a few occasional disturbances 
occurred. And, in fact, the merriment of the multitude would have 
induced a stranger to suppose that they had assembled to. witness a 
pleasant spectacle, instead of the sanguinary display of a public 
execution. Whatever motive it is that excites large masses of people 
to congregate together, on ordinary occasions, it would, perhaps, be 
difficult to determine ; but in this instance there was a special attrac- 
tion — the condemned were not only rebels, but their rank in life was 
far above the usual run of criminals, inasmuch as they were nobles of 
the land, and it was no every-day occurrence to behold the beheading 
of a lord.. This bad drawn together an immense concourse of the 
lower orders, ever eager to gratify their love of sight-seeing ; and 
possibly not altogether exempt from an indulgence of pleasure, arising 
from the jealousy which the truly democratic portion of the people 
cherish with regard to the titled aristocracy of the country. There 
were also large numbers of the middle classes, who, in their gladness 
that rebellion had been crushed, forgot the more gentle emotions of 
humanity, and came with implacability in their hearts, to see the 
utmost rigour of the law carried into full operation. Nor was there 
wanting a numerous attendance of a higher grade, influenced by various 
views and various desires, to be present at the death of men who had 
moved in the same sphere with themselves. Some few experienced the 
stirrings of mournful sympathy in their breasts ; a great portion yielded 
to excitement, and hailed the sacrifice of existence as a triumph to the 
cause they had espoused; whilst by far the larger part were actuated 
by curiosity, and a fondness for pastime, let its nature be what it might. 
Another and paramount feeling of vengeance against the condemned, 
was created by reports which had been industriously circulated, that 
^n the day previous to the battle of Culloden, orders were issued by the 



JOLLY BOAT. 213 

rebel lords to make no prisoners, but to put all who surrendered to 
death. It is true that Balinarino most positively denied all knowledge 
of such orders ; but Earl Kilmarnock, though he declared his ignorance 
of any such resolution having been come to at the period stated, yet 
admitted that, " since he had been a captive in the Tower, he had all 
the reason in the world to believe that such an order had been made, 
but it had never been delivered to him, as Lieutenant General of the 
forces ; it was written in a pocket-book, which was said to be in the 
possession of the Duke of Cumberland." 

To this Lord Balmarino replied, that " It was a lie, invented and 
raised as an excuse for the barbarity that had been exercised against 
them." ^ 

This, together with explanations relative to the events of the early 
morning, formed the principal topics of conversation between Harry 
and his friend, when they could safely speak of such things to each 
other ; which was not of frequent occurrence, as Trueman seemed to 
deem it most advisable not to attract the notice of those in their im- 
mediate neighbourhood ; indeed, he kept his head bowed down, so as 
to hide even his disguised features, though the intense heat was almost 
suffocating. 

It was about ten o'clock in the forenoon, when a noise in the distance, 
and an oscillating motion to and fro amongst the crowd, proclaimed 
the expected procession was on the move. The advance was slow, as the 
condemned were on foot — and with something like a sickness of heart, 
Harry became sensible that the spot James Trueman had chosen was 
in the direct line to the scaffold — and first came the officials, with the 
headsman — then followed Earl Kilmarnock, a tall, slender, handsome- 
featured man, dressed in deep black. On one side of him was Foster, 
the great Presbyterian preacher, and on the other the Rev. Mr. Home, 
a young Clergyman, and personal friend. Lord Balmarino walked 
alone ; his body erect and bold ; his step firm and manly ; and his look 
cool and undaunted. He wore the regimentals of the rebels — a blue 
coat turned up with scarlet — precisely similar to that which afterwards 
formed the favourite habiliment of George the Third. The hearses for 
their decapitated bodies followed. 

As they passed the position chosen by James Trueman, he was fully 
sensible that every eye which could catch a view of the prisoners would 
be directed alone at them, and raising himself erect he gazed earnestly 
on the noblemen. The Earl's head was inclined downwards, nor did 
he give the slightest heed to the observations of the crowd. Balmarino, 
on the contrary, looked all around him, and seemed amused, without 
levity, by what he heard and saw. The packman uttered a peculiar 
sound, and exposed every part of his face to view. Balmarino turned, 
gave a smile of recognition, and laying his right hand above his heart, 
slightly bowed and passed on. Trueman instantly resumed his dis- 
guise, and again bent down upon the arm of the young apprentice, who 
felt the strong frame of his companion quivering as if in agony. 

A house near the place of execution received the prisoners, and the 
populace continued violently excited by expectation for more than an 



214 THE OLD SAILOJR'S 

hour and a half, when the Earl, pale and agitated, ascended the scaffold. 
No sound of exultation was heard ; the noble looked terrified, and if 
there had been an inclination to insult, it was hushed by the kindlier 
sentiments of commiseration. He spoke for some time to the Sheriffs, 
an^ then stood by Foster, who wept over, exhorted, and prayed with 
him. He then took off his coat and waistcoat, and having, after some 
trouble, put on a napkin cap, he repeatedly »tried his neck upon the 
block, the executioner (who was arrayed in white, with a white apron) 
standing by, and out of delicacy and tenderness concealing the axe 
behind him. At last the Earl knelt down with a visible unwillingness 
to depart, but after a few minutes he gave the signal — the axe fell, and 
the head was struck off at one stroke, merely hanging by a bit of skin, 
and both were speedily deposited in the coffin that awaited them ; orders 
having been given not to expose the heads, according to ancient 
custom. 

As the axe was raised in the air, an almost breathless stillness pre- 
vailed — but when it came down, crashing on the victim's neck, groans 
and shrieks from the assembled thousands manifested the intense 
feelings that pervaded every breast ; whilst the waving to and fro of 
the huge mass, like the billows of the sea when in rolling commotion, 
threatened many with destruction. The young apprentice now, in turn, 
grasped the arm of the packman, and with difficulty preserved himself 
from falling; the spectacle was harrowing and sickening enough of 
itself to cause his weakness and tremor, but the thought that probably 
the father of the fair girl whom he had left at his mother's, might 
undergo a similar fate, overpowered his faculties. James Trueman 
stood unmoved as he firmly supported the distressed youth, and whis- 
pered words of encouragement that gradually revived him. 

The moment the body of the Earl was removed, clean sawdust was 
strewed over the scaffold, new cloth was spread over the block, the 
executioner appeared in fresh apparel, with another axe in his hand, 
and forth came the veteran noble, Balmarino, treading the platform 
with the most perfect self-possession and firmness. He walked up to 
his coffin, put on his spectacles (for he was approaching to sixty years 
of age), and deliberately read the inscription on the plate. He then 
calmly looked round, both above and below, at the multitude, till his 
eye rested on the spot where Harry and his friend were standing. 
That instant James Trueman uttered a low moan of pain, and tossed 
his arms into the air. The act was momentary, and all near commis- 
erated his suffering ; but those who were not so closely approximating, 
beheld the brave old nobleman flourish his hand above his head with 
seeming joyousness. The packman saw it too : it was the last 
recognition and adieu from a tried and worthy friend. Nor had it 
escaped the notice of young Paulet, and his thoughts became more and 
more confused as to the connexion which evidently existed between 
his companion and the rebel leaders. 

Balmarino pulled off his spectacles and read an inflammatory speech, 
expressive of " his pride and glory at the thought of suffering for so 
sweet a prince as they had driven from the throne and realm." Once 






JOLLY EOAT. 215 

or twice he spoke rather vehemently ; and he took the axe from the 
hands of the executioner, and passing his fingers down the edge to try 
its keenness, he smilingly questioned the man, and then gave him 
money. Whilst thus engaged, two Clergymen drew near to him ; but 
he turned briskly round, and, politely bowing, declined their further 
services. They looked mournfully at each other, and appeared to 
endeavour to remonstrate ; but he walked briskly away to the corner 
of the scaffold next the steps, and called loudly for the Warder who had 
had him in charge. The man came ; and Balmarino, removing his 
periwig, presented it to him. All this w r as done with such intrepidity 
and fearlessness, that numbers of the spectators were strtfek with 
admiration, and the sounds of applause were heard. I 

" Brave, excellent old soldier!" said James Trueman enthusiastically. 
" Mark him, Harry, my boy ; he displays the true essence of greatness 
of mind, that no adversity, not even the prospect of death, can subdue." 

The youth made no answer; he was already too much engrossed by 
what was going on before his sight. The veteran nobleman having 
parted with his wig, put on a cap of Scotch plaid, threw off his coat 
and waistcoat, and displayed his shroud, which he had on beneath 
them. Harry shuddered as the last garment of perishing mortality 
was exhibited to his view ; but Trueman still kept uttering mingled 
plaudits and regrets. 

Balmarino then knelt to the block, but placed himself on the 
wrong side ; the executioner informed him of his error, and the old 
man sprang up with the agility of youth, and with quickness corrected 
the mistake. He laid his neck upon the block ; the official stood 
ready with his weapon ; the rebel Chief threw his hand aloft, in the 
same manner as he had done to James Trueman. It was the signal. 
The axe descended; the commotion amongst the populace was renewed, 
so that it was with difficulty any one could keep his feet ; loud cries 
and groans arose, when again the axe gleamed aboye, and with the 
rapidity of lightning came heavily down a second time. There was a 
convulsive heaving of the victim's body, but his head was still unsevered 
— a third time the instrument was raised, and the succeeding blow did 
its office more effectually ; the head was separated from the shoulders, 
and the whole were almost immediately placed in the coffin, and 
deposited in the hearse. 

Trueman tremblingly grasped the arm of his young companion, who 
himself needed support, and for some time they stood side by side in 
silence. The mind's eye of the youth had still the horrible spectacle 
passing in visionary review before him ; the unknown fate of the man 
he had tried to rescue, as well as that of his gallant old master, came 
terribly connected with the fearful scene he had witnessed ; a gory 
redness, like that of the vital stream he had seen so profusely shed, 
dimmed his sight, and gave a similar hue to surrounding objects ; even 
when he shut out the light of day it w 7 as still the same, and though tha 
noise of the retiring populace grew louder and louder, yet it could not 
drown in his ears the protracted sounds of the axe, as it successively 
fell upon the necks of the condemned. 



S16 TH£ OLD SAILOR'S 

• The crowd slowly and gradually dispersed through the many outlets 
from the Hill, and Harry and his seemingly aged relative went With the 
stream towards Billingsgate, where they engaged a wherry ; and the 
young apprentice taking one of the sculls, they swiftly passed beneath 
the middle arch of the bridge, it being about the top of the tide. 
Trueman sat alone, abaft, indulging in self-communion, for he seldom 
spoke ; the river was thronged with boats ; active life was everywhere 
pursuing its accustomed avocations and amusements ; business and 
pleasure progressed — the latter most prevalent, as if nothing material 
had occurred. 

But return we to old Will, who, as soon as he had gained the 
entrance to St. Saviour's dock, diligently employed himself in cleaning 
his wherry, whilst many a mournful thought was given to the youth 
whose duty it would have been to have executed this task. As soon as 
it was completed, he rowed to the opposite shore, and pulled up 
against the current over the ground he had so hazardously traversed 
some hours before, lingering on his paddles near the spot where he had 
last seen his apprentice ; he then continued on his way till he reached 
his own stairs, where he made his boat fast, and full of painful rumina- 
tions, walked towards the Hatch, scarcely daring to meet the widow of 
his deceased friend. 

It was still early morning, but Mrs. Paulet was in her garden, and 
on hearing the gate shaken, she promptly advanced and welcomed the 
veteran waterman. 

" Truly happy am I that you have returned," said the widow, as she 
opened the wicket, " for your counsel is much needed at this moment.'* 

" And rejoiced shall I be to add assistance to my counsel," added 
the waterman. " These are no times, Mrs. Paulet, for mere words- 
actions — actions must best prove the strength of real friendship. Say 
what are your commands ; my worthy old messmate, now in glory, 
would not act with more obedience were he here to tell you so 
himself." 

" John was ever good and kind, Master Buntline," responded the 
widow, as she applied her white apron to either corner of her eyes. 
" Heaven has seen fit to deprive me of my husband ; but whilst I have 
my boy to cheer my lonely thoughts and hours, and so good a friend 
in you, I am not without my pleasant comforts, and for which I would 
be grateful." ^ 

This conversation passed as they walked towards the cottage, and 
old Will's eyes and ears were on the alert to try whether he could 
detect the presence of his young apprentice at home. But it was 
evident from the widow's manner that he was not there, nor did she 
appear aware of the cause of his absence, and how to break it to her 
perplexed him sorely ; his usual clearness of judgment failed him, for 
the origin of his distrust and sorrow was deeply seated in his heart, and 
belonged to himself. On entering the doorway, however, his ears were 
greeted by a voice he well remembered, though in the darkness of 
the night he had no opportunity of remarking the person of the owner, 

" Welcome — welcome, my worthy Charon of the ferry ; nay, do not 



JOLLY BOAT. 217 

back astern" — for the waterman was about to withdraw — "Mayhap 
you think it was a scurvy trick I played you, but I merely did that 
which you yourself were about to do — shoved up to the dock head in 
my own boat, which seemed the lightest — there I found the carriage." 
— -He rose, and advanced towards old Will — " so give us your hand, 
master Buntline — he is safely stowed away for whom you risked so 
much, and the blessings of his grateful daughter now await you. I 
wish I could hear her say one tithe as much of me as she has said of 
you ; that would, indeed, be joyous to my heart. But come, my gallant 
rough-not, there is still a toothful in the flask ; here, take it, and 
refresh ; nay, for the matter o'that, you may keep it altogether, and it 
will serve to remind you of one who, however rude, knows in what way 
to value bravery." 

Buntline took both the hand and the vessel that were tendered to him. 
"You have my thanks, good skifFs-man," said he with serious earnest- 
ness ; " for though at first I felt surprised, and angered, yet as you 
have been successful, why Will was never the boy to think of his-self 
when the safety of another was secured — your health, whoever you are, 
and long life and happiness attend you." He quaffed the liquor, and 
without another word put the flask into his pocket; nor did he notice 
its value, for it was silver. 

" Come, hie thee to thy boat, good Master Buntline," said the 
stranger, " for we have need of some one who holds much skill in 
leech-craft ; I will find the man, and you must guide him hither 
without loss of time. Dame Paulet, accept my best thanks for your 
hospitality ; I cannot, at this moment, render thee more. And " — his 
voice become soft and persuasive — " when thou seest the fair Maude 
— whom angels protect — tell her of the devotional regard of Eustace 
de Vere. Adieu — adieu — come, Master Buntline, come" — and he 
hurried the veteran from the dwelling without allowing him time or 
opportunity to speak of the missing apprentice. On their way across 
the water they conversed upon the past, so as to gain more intimate 
acquaintance, and Will became better pleased with his young and 
handsome companion, who advised t® keep Harry's absence a secret 
from his mother, and promised to join him in his searches as soon as 
he had conducted the surgeon to the widow's cottage. 

For several hours the waterman waited at the Savoy stairs, anxiously 
expecting the return of his friend the skiff sman. At last he made 
his appearance, but had it not been for his features Will would not 
have known him, for he was now elegantly dressed in the fashion 
of the times, though still approaching to something of a nautical 
character ; and certainly a much handsomer man could not have well 
been found. He was accompanied by the surgeon, who paid him 
great deference, and Will thought he heard more than once the title 
of " my Lord," as they conversed together in a low tone whilst 
crossing the river. The surgeon was landed, and left to pursue his 
path to the Hatch, but the waterman was directed to shove out into 
the stream, where they might the better consult on the course to be 
pursued respecting Hurry. Old Will obeyed, and repeated every 
23 



218 THE OliD SAILOR'S 

circumstance connected with the young man's intrepid conduct and 
his disappearance, and it was resolved to go down into the immediate 
neighbourhood where he had last been seen in order to make inquiries, 
and to act according to the information they should receive. The 
waterman, though much fatigued, bent sturdily to his purpose — hope 
and fear alternately swaying their influence over his mind. 

" 'Twill break his mother's heart should any thing misfortunate 
have happened to him," said he ; " and there is James Trueman, too, 
whom your honour seems to know ; but he, you say, is safe." 

" He was when I last saw him," responded the other ; " and 
doubtless he reached the shore, for he was one of our best swimmers 
at College." 

" And Harry, too," continued the veteran. " God send — " 

" So ho, Master Buntline," shouted a distant voice from the middle 
of the now broad river. " So ho — heave-to for a friend." 

"'Tis he — 'tis he — Harry, my boy," exclaimed the old man in 
ecstacy, dropping both his sculls overboard as he sprang up and gave 
the shuffle of a hornpipe, through extreme delight — then extending 
his arms, he sang out " Harry, my lad — here away — bear a hand, and 
pull alongside." 

" Moderate your joy, good Master Buntline," said the late supposed 
^kiff's-man. "Your transports will draw upon us universal notice, 
which will be scarcely pleasant under our present circumstances — 
he has a companion with him — a stranger to my eyes — do you know 
aught of the man ? " 

" I do not— he is equally a stranger to me," replied Will, as joyously 
as ever. " God bless the boy ! — and now I shall meet the widow with 
a fearless face." 

"Be cautious, good Master Buntline," said Eustace de Vere — " he 
may be in custody — though his shipmate must be too aged for an 
official — ply thy sculls, and keep way upon the wherry. Gad so, but 
thy head is turned, and thy sculls are gone adrift." 

By this time, the wherry in which Harry and James Trueman had 
embarked pulled up alongside, and the young apprentice, with happy 
glee, sprang on to his old thwart, and catching up the boat-hook, 
gained possession of the paddles. The seemingly aged wayfarer in 
life's pilgrimage was assisted from one wherry to the other ; the fare was 
paid, and the boats separated, shaping their course in opposite directions. 

"And how is it with you, my brave lad?" asked the old seaman, 
whose gratification at again beholding the youth had almost over- 
powered him. " Did you think I had abandoned you, my poor boy ? 
How did you escape — and who is your aged companion?" 

"Avast, there, Master Buntline, avast," exclaimed James Trueman 
in his own proper voice. " You read me a lesson yesterday on prac- 
tising deception — I will not incur a second chastisement to-day." He 
turned to his fellow passenger, and exposing his features, continued : 
" I am glad to see you in such worthy company, my Lord ; these are 
old friends of mine. Were you successful in your undertaking, Will? — 
is he — " 



JOLLY BOAT. 219 

" Safe — safe and snug at the Hatch," answered the waterman ; 
" though they tricked the old tar at last — it was that gentleman and 
another who piloted him securely into port.*' 

" I could have expected no less from one so ardently devoted to 
our cause," said the packman, smiling. " Lord Eustace de Vere is, at 
least, no pretender — " 

" Enough — enough," uttered the other, extending his hand, and 
interrupting further expression of sentiment, whether real or ironical. 
" We can converse upon such matters when we are alone ; at present 
I can only say it with the honest sincerity of my heart — I am truly 
rejoiced, Sir James, that I have this opportunity of thanking you for 
all that you have done — right nobly have these good people served 
you ; and, doubtless, they will do still more to merit your regard. 
Your disguise is excellent, but there are those abroad who will not fail 
to penetrate it. Do you know that" — and he hesitated, but his thread 
was instantly taken up by the supposed packman. 

" A heavy price for blood is laid upon my head. Tut, I heed it not. 
We have seen richer than ever swelled my veins poured forth this day, 
and they are seeking fresh victims for their wrath. Fear not for me — 
old Will may get five hundred pounds for the betrayal of his friend — 
it will serve to smooth his latter days." 

" Never, never !" exclaimed the waterman as he ceased rowing, and 
stared the taunter full in the face. " No, no ; I*m poor in pocket, but 
not a soul breathing, or that may yet breathe, shall ever say Will 
Buntline was bankrupt in honour and fidelity." 

" Give way again, my hearty," said Lord Eustace with eagerness. 
" Sir James Trelawney was but exercising his habitual mode of trying 
men's tempers ; he plays with dangerous weapons, and in the hands of 
a less skilful engineer might wound himself." 

" It is as T thought, then," gently murmured the waterman. " You 
have carried the trick on well, Sir James ; and yet, from the very first, 
I had my doubts, as you may call to mind." 

" We have but little interval for retrospect, old boy," returned the 
daring man ; " the future must be our care. Bear in remembrance 
that I am Harry's grandmother, or grandfather, which you please ; 
though, after witnessing the death of my brave friend who perished on 
the scaffold, the former, perhaps, would be the most appropriate, for it 
made an old woman of me, as the youngster there can testify." 

The name of Trelawney was not unfamiliar either to Harry or his 
master; and Sir James, who had staunchly adhered to the Stuart 
cause, was considered one of the best-informed and most resolute of 
the rebel leaders ; he was daring to a fault, was constantly in peril, 
but favoured by fortune, always contrived to escape. He was present 
and actively engaged in the battle of Culloden ; Lord Balmarino prized 
him as his right hand in all adventurous achievements ; they had 
served together in the field and camp in earlier life, and were insepar- 
able associates — fighting side by side in more than one campaign — 
sharing the same tent when relaxation from stern duty allowed of rest, 
and aiding each other in study or in pleasure. And now, whilst busy 



220 IHE OLD SAILOR'S 

memory framed a moving diorama of past occurrences, "he narrated in 
energetic language the scenes connected with the last moments of his 
old comrade and friend, But though his eloquence flowed purely and 
naturally, yet his voice at times was tremulous, and the agitation of his 
body plainly evidenced the deep suffering under which his mental 
faculties were labouring. Soul-harrowing was the description which 
he gave of the last moments of Earl Kilmarnock ; but when he spoke 
of Balmarino, so vivid was the picture which he drew of heroism, 
that old Will shouted aloud, whilst the big round drops ran races 
down his cheeks. 

Mutual explanations followed, and by the time they reached their 
destination, they were all fully acquainted with each others trans- 
actions, although the name or rank of the rescued man did not transpire. 
The meeting at the widow's was mournful, but affectionate ; the fair 
Maude was in attendance upon her parent, and Lord Eustace forebore 
to intrude. But Sir James Trelawney, now wearied, and anxious to 
obtain safety and repose, found shelter in the same small cottage, with 
its rural garden ; and having conferred with, and congratulated, the 
truly grateful being who lay stretched upon a comfortable bed, he 
shook the fair girl by the hand, spread his cloak upon the floor, and 
stretching himself upon it, was soon asleep. But though tired nature 
was overpowered, the secret mystery that prompts our visionary 
dreams was strong and active ; his slumbers were restless and dis- 
turbed ; derision and execrations escaped his lips in disjointed 
sentences ; his body was in repose, but his mind was ill at ease. 

No place could have been better selected for concealment than that 
in which they then were. Passengers were constantly passing through 
the Hatch, so that no suspicions were excited by the visits which the 
surgeon and others paid at the cottage, which, of itself, was scarcely 
visible for the thick embowering foliage by which it was enveloped. 
Articles of all kinds could easily be conveyed by the confederates ; a 
little caution was all that was required, and as it was still the beautiful 
and glorious season of summer, the gardens breathed a rich fragrance 
that was grateful to the sense. The wounded man recovered fast, and 
Sir James Trelawney left them, to make arrangements for secretly 
quitting the country. 

The young apprentice had frequent opportunities of seeing and 
conversing with the lady Maude, and each interview increased his 
admiration and affection. He was aware that Lord Eustace de Vere 
was strongly attached to her, as was also a wealthy cavalier, who had 
personated the coachman on the morning of the escape, and both had 
hazarded much for the father, through love for the daughter. Harry 
felt — keenly felt — the lowliness of his station. It occupied his 
thoughts in all his moments of reflection; the lessons and society of 
James Trueman had filled his mind with ambitious aspirings, and he 
longed for something to occur, by which he might publicly signalize 
himself above his fellows. 

Whatever were the sentiments entertained by the fair girl, certain 
it is that, at all times, she received the youth with grateful considera- 



JOLLY BOAT. 2^1 

tion, and even tenderness ; which filled the bosom of the widow with 
delight, for she looked upon her son with a fond mother's eye, and 
proud was she when he was distinguished by her guests. Lord 
Eustace treated him as one brave young man would treat another ; 
Edward Fraser (the ci-devant coachman), a gay, reckless blade, looked 
upon him with contemptuous indifference — Harry highly esteemed the 
one, and despised the other. 

At length Sir James Trelawney returned, and announced that every 
thing was in readiness for their departure, and Harry's heart sank 
within him at the prospect of parting from the lady Maude. Not but 
that he was fully sensible of the vast difference in their several stations; 
but still his soul and spirit clung to her with a pertinacity that could 
not be subdued; his anxious mother saw the struggles in his breast, 
and, when too late to check it, became acquainted with the cause. 
She upraided herself for her own blind vanity ; she reasoned with her 
son — entreated — threatened; but ardent affection had taken such deep 
root, that nothing but death could eradicate its growth, and the young 
apprentice resolved to devote the remainder of his existence to the 
service of the female he so passionately loved. Will Buntline and Sir 
James equally remonstrated, but it was in vain ; he listened with 
respectful attention to their admonitions, but his purpose was fixed, and 
all their urgings only prompted him to greater caution in following the 
course he had marked out for himself. 

The hour for separation drew near. Harry had a long interview with 
the lady Maude. It was in the stillness of the night, when no sound 
was heard but the autumnal breeze, as it swept over the withering and 
rustling leaves, and no witnesses looked on but -the glorious orbs that 
gemmed the canopy of heaven. What transpired, it is not our present 
purpose to reveal ; the youth appeared to be more firm on the succeed- 
ing day ; his look was no longer inclined downwards in abstracted 
thought, he walked boldly erect, and, though a cloud of melancholy 
still hung over his brow, yet his manners and his language were utterly 
changed; he had lived years in that comparatively brief interval, and 
he had become, in every sense, a man. That evening the parting took 
place — what it was, may be conceived, but not adequately described. 

Several months passed away, and no intelligence arrived of the 
fugitives, who had embarked for Spain with the intention of passing 
on into Italy. Sir James Trelawney had promised to write at the earliest 
opportunity ; Lord Eustace frequently visited at the cottage, or took 
a trip with old Will on the Thames ; he also had heard nothing, till 
impatience became too powerful to be resisted, and he avowed his 
design to visit Rome, where the young Pretender had found 
countenance and protection. Harry would gladly have accompanied 
him ; but he adhered to the pledge he had given to his expiring father, 
" Never to forsake his mother." But the widow could not witness 
unmoved the growing uneasiness and continued restlessness of her son. 
She inquired his wishes ; he frankly communicated them — he wished 
to go forth into the world, and court the favours of fortune. It was 
impossible for her not to see that a life of inglorious ease was in no 



222 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

way adapted to the young man's views ; and after a consultation with 
Will Buntline, her consent was given. Harry shipped in a brig bound 
to the Mediterranean — the widow's bosom was wrung with anguish- 
old Will felt inclined to go with the lad, but was restrained by his 
desire to be near the mother — it was the balance of some clays, 
but ultimately the scale in favour of the widow preponderated, and the 
young man departed alone, to endure the perils of the ocean. 



CHAPTER VII. 



Time, force, and death, 
11 Do to this hody what extremes you can ; 
But the strong base and building of my love 
Is as the very centre of the earth, 
Drawing all things to it." 

****** 

" 'Tis much he dares , 
And to that dauntless temper of his mind, 
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour 
To act in safety." 

Shakespeare. 

A delightful thing it is to be sailing with the wind abaft, on the 
clear, blue, sparkling ocean ; the canvass packed upon the craft, taut 
braces, and flowing sheets ; the waters roaring and frothing under 
the bows, and leaving a long continuous line of foam in the wake ; the 
glorious sun shining in splendour above, the dancing seas glistening 
below — dry decks, and steady going. Then, again, the heavy gale, 
in its terrific grandeur, rolling the waves up into mountains, and 
clashing them about at will, manifests the vast powers of the winds, 
and the great skill of man in resisting their fury. Harry felt all 
this ; and though the first storm he was in created sensations of awe 
and wonder such as he had never experienced before, yet, when he saw 
the judicious application of seamanship to meet every threatening 
danger, admiration took precedence of alarm, and as soon as the 
brig was under snug sail, he enjoyed the spectacle. 

The vessel was bound to Leghorn, and during her run up the 
Mediterranean, and on her arrival, the varied novelties that were 
constantly presenting themselves, operated like the spirit of enchant- 
ment upon the mind of the youth, And a beautiful place is the 
Mediterranean, with its pleasant temperature and transparent skies. 
Lovely are the early mornings, as the first blush of rising day throws 
its faint roseate tint along the horizon ; and gorgeous are the sunsets, 
as the bright orb descends, as if to rest in palaces of gold, which are 
reflected on the bosom of the pellucid waters in all the richness of 
their glowing hues. The waking dreamer may there indulge his 



JOLLY EOAT. 223 

vivid fancies with romantic fervour ; but even the imagination, with 
all its quick conceptions and delicious visions, must fall infinitely 
short of the dazzling realities of that brilliant scene, in all its various 
tones and lustrous colouring. 

Harry had ascertained from Lord Eustace de Vere the probability 
that the lady Maude and her father were in Home ; and now, being 
so near the ancient city, strongly did the temptation assail him to quit 
his vessel and proceed thither in search of her. He was standing 
on the mole that protects the outer harbour, debating the matter 
in his mind, whilst warm affection struggled against honour, when 
d small coaster, bound to Civita Vecchia, got under weigh. The 
young man knew her destination, and was also aware that he should 
not be more than forty miles from Home, and there was a still further 
chance of getting a passage in some boat that might be ascending 
the Tiber. Love conquered prudence — it has done so in wiser and 
older heads than Harry's, from the commencement of the world, and 
will continue to do so whilst a spark of human feeling remains. He 
hesitated no longer, but hailing the craft, requested that he might be 
taken on board ; the light skiff was sent for him, and in a short time 
he was rwnning along the coast. His conduct on board pleased the 
master, for he had greatly exerted himself during a strong breeze, in 
which the crew, instead of actively endeavouring to shorten sail, were 
down on their marrow bones uttering lamentations, and imploring 
the help of the saints, who did not appear to indulge in any very 
strong inclination to take in the canvass, though the wind did, and 
most probably would have borrowed the masts to aid in carrying off 
the sails ; but Harry's energies prevailed over their fears, for, with 
the assistance of the master, he rattled a rope's-end about the prostrate 
mariners, and forced them to help themselves. In return, the master, 
understanding that the young man wanted to get to Home, promised 
to do all in his power to forward his views. 

Whilst activity was required, Harry had but little time to think of 
the consequences of his rash step ; but when the loneliness of night 
had spread over him, he began to reflect upon the position in which 
he had placed himself. Thoughts of the discreditable act he had 
committed, together with the probable misery it might bring to his 
mother, should she come to the knowledge of it — as well as the 
difficulties he must necessarily encounter in a strange country, amongst 
a people of whose language he was entirely ignorant — these, and 
many other unpleasant cogitations, rendered him restless, sleepless, 
and unhappy. The lady Maude might not be in Rome ; and if she 
was, he knew of no plan which he could adopt for the purpose of 
finding her. All was doubt and uncertainty. But the young man had 
run more desperate risks than the present undertaking threatened, 
and as the bright morning arose to cheer the heart, he banished 
useless regret ; for, though he sometimes wished he was once more on 
board the brig, yet as he knew it to be impossible, he strove to subdue 
dark remembrances of the past, and tried to look forward to a more 
joyous future. 



224 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

They arrived at Civita Vecchia without accident, and the master, 
■unlike the generality of his countrymen, kept his word ; he procured 
the young sailor a passage in a boat that would convey him within 
three miles of Rome, and he also gave him a token (for he could not 
write) which, presented to any one amongst the lazzaroni who sought 
to molest him, would have the effect of converting them to friends. 
He arrived safely in " the city of the world ; " but unable to make 
himself understood, he wandered about for several days, disregarded 
or only laughed at by the heedless and light-hearted populace, most 
of whom revelled in the luxury of unrestricted idleness and a pro- 
fusion of unclean rags, as they basked in the warm sun and ate 
maccaroni. Harry had brought but little money with him, but the 
cravings of hunger could be satisfied for a mere trifle, and there was 
no very great hardship in that climate, especially t> a young sailor, 
in sleeping without the shelter of a roof. But still the life he was 
leading did not accord with his views of propriety, nor yet with his 
comforts ; and the thoughts of home, and the " trim-built wherry," 
would intrude, and, as yet, he seemed to be as far from attaining the 
object of his search as ever. 

Carnival time came, and this both amused and annoyed him; he 
was highly diverted with the merry and grotesque groups that 
thronged the streets, but frequently became the subject of mirth and 
ridicule to the rabble, who would have used him roughly, but that, 
on showing the token, it had an instantaneous effect on some one or 
other of the party, and they immediately desisted. On one occasion, 
however, instead of this result he was forcibly seized, and would 
have been hurried away, but that a group of jovial masquers, habited 
as bacchanals, hearing the appeal of an Englishman for protection, 
suddenly rallied round the youth, and rescued him— not from the 
hands of bandits, but the officers of justice, who had been watching 
his proceedings with suspicion ; and to whom, on being addressed, 
he had displayed the token, which turned out to be a sign of recog- 
nition and protection amongst the thieves of that huge district. 

The masquers having released the youth, placed him in their 
centre, and pursued their way, but Harry felt no confidence in the 
friendly aid he had received, and he would gladly have escaped from 
their riotous and boisterous pastimes, but they seemed to be deter- 
mined not to part with him ; and resistance against so many would 
have been vain. At length he resolved to free himself, and assuming 
a threatening aspect he was about to fling himself from their company, 
when a voice in good English uttered, in a low tone, '* Keep where 
you are if you wish to be in safety ; you have a friend at hand, who 
does not care to be found amongst the revellers — you will know him 
presently." ' 

Thus assured in his native tongue, Harry at once yielded to the 
suggestion, and continued with the masquers, who entered an ancient 
palace-like building, where wines and refreshments were awaiting 
them, and Harry was invited to partake of the good cheer. As his 
daily fare had been meagre and scanty, the youth did not wait for a 



JOLLY BOAT. 225 

soeond bidding, but applied himself most diligently to tbe solid viands 
and the savoury meats, qualifying his food with gladness. At the 
close, he was summoned into another room, where one of the masquers 
was seated alone. 

" And who would have thought of ever seeing Harry Paulet in 
Rome?" exclaimed the man, whose voice the youth immediately 
recognized as that of Sir James Trelawney. " What brings you here, 
my lad ? Has the Pope promised you a Cardinal's hat — or do you 
expect the expatriated King to grant you a patent of nobility ? Alas ! 
Many, the Apostolic Vicar has given the last of his old hats to the 
Duke of York, and Charles's patent would be nothing better than so 
much waste paper. But what brings you here ?" 

Thus questioned, Harry felt somewhat puzzled for a reply. The 
delicacy of his regard would not permit him to mention the lady 
Maude ; and so he frankly stated that, having arrived at Leghorn, and 
desirous of learing something of his former friends, he had quitted his 
vessel and come to Rome. 

" And you have turned deserter, Harry, eh ? that is a bad beginning, 
young man. And what friends are there of whom you would be 
informed ?" 

" Need I say, Sir James, that supposing you were here, I felt most 
anxious to see one to whom I am under lasting obligations ?" responded 
the youth. 

" Tut, tut, boy — no subterfuges — they will not do for me," exclaimed 
Sir James smartly ; " old heads seldom fascinate young hearts — the 
witch spell is of a different caste — youth and loveliness ! but there 
must also be an equality of station, my young friend. Ay, I see you 
understand me, by that red upon your cheeks. Your secret is safe, nor 
was the fault your own, for none could long behold the lady Maude 
without loving her. Harry, you must think of her no more." 

" Then should I despise the lessons you have taught me, when, as 
plain James Trueman, you instructed me by your counsel," said the 
youth. *' It was you, Sir James, that taught me to aspire \bove 
myself; to work out an elevation of my own — to raise myself by 
worthy acts and gallant deeds. I love the lady Maude — I glory in the 
truth, Sir James, and must ever love her. It shall be the object of my 
life to gain an honourable name ; aye, and wealth too — " 

" I would not damp your ardour, Harry," returned Trelawney. " I 
should glory to see you do all this. But not for her, my son — it can- 
not be for her. But tell me how is the good dame, your mother, and 
mv old crony Will — has he made the widow a Buntline yet?" 

"She was well,and single, when I left her, Sir," answered Harry, "nor 
do 1 believe that she will ever again change her name ur her condition." 

" Oh, there's no accounting for these things, my lad," urged Sir 
James. " Women's minds are like a thick mist ; there may be bright- 
ness beyond, but they veil it under pretence and enigma. I am glad 
to see you looking well. You must away back to your ship again. I 
will myself go to your Captain, and see you safe on board — for your 
sake, and for the sake of him who once befriended me." - 
29 



226 THE OLD SAILOK S 

"Is the lady Maude in Rome, Sir?" inquired the young sailor, 
timidly, " May I not be allowed to have one brief interview ?" 

" That is questiou and answer combined, Harry," remarked Tre- 
lawney. " She is in Rome, and I dare say that you may see her, 
though I should recommend you not to do so. Recollect, Harry, how 
you are both situated ; and whatever good intentions you may have, 
many years must elapse, even with the best success, before you can 
command either fame or money. Would you be selfish enough to 
wish her prospects to remain obscure, whilst waiting for uncertainty ? 
Believe me, my lad, the best designs are often frustrated. Rest your- 
self here to-day, and to-morrow we will speed our course for Leghorn. 
The followers of Prince Charles are scant of wealth ; attainders and 
confiscations make sad havoc with real property, as far as the right 
owners are concerned, but some day * the King will get his own again.' 
Poor old Balmarino ! you cannot have forgotten that spectacle, Harry— 
I would that Prince Charles had seen it." 

" I have ever been guided by your admonitions, Sir James," said 
Harry meekly, " and would still wish to follow their directions. But 
oh ! if you knew the earnest longings of my very soul — if — " 

" Tut, boy — tut — this is sheer madness, that weakens the mind to 
feebleness and imbecility," exclaimed Trelawney with some degree of 
sternness. "Nerve yourself to better things — that which you 
wish to achieve can only be gained by steady perseverance and 
firmness. Is this to be taken as a specimen of yours ? But learn 
more, my son — the lady Maude is no longer at her own disposal ; she 
is now the wife of Lord Eustace de Vere — and may the best of bless- 
ings rest upon their union." 

Harry heard not the benediction — the announcement alone met 
his ear, and a sudden tremor shook every limb in his body as if 
seized by a strong ague-fit ; he stood for a moment or two, the blood 
became stagnant near the heart, and he dropped senseless on the 
floor. This was totally unexpected by Sir James Trelawney, who 
had come to the knowledge of the young man's attachment, but 
looked upon it as a mere youthful passion, that would soon evaporate 
amidst the bustling scenes of active life. He knew that Harry was 
sincere and stedfast in what he undertook, for he himself had con- 
stantly inculcated the principles ; he knew the young man had the 
soul to dare, and the will to do, but he never dreamed that these 
attributes could be unchangingly carried out in a mere love affair, 
between a couple yet in their teens ! It was to him a mystery. He 
raised the young sailor from prostration ; he tried to make him 
swallow water: but it was no faintness that had come over him — a 
stunning blow to the faculties had deprived them of their wonted 
powers, and he had sunk under it. But it did not last long ; the vital 
current resumed its usual course, though irregular and spasmodic ; 
recollection returned ; he wiped the thick perspiration from his 
forehead, and forcibly uttered, 

" May they be happy ! — my ambitious dream is over ! She can 
never be mine; but I will still cherish her remembrance while life 



JOLLY BOAT, 227 

endures, nor shall any other female breathing ever possess my affec- 
tion. She is my first — she shall be my last and only love. Sir 
James, I am ready to obey you in all things." 

" There is sense in that, my boy," responded Trelawney ; " and 
certainly more to be relied on than the assertions you have just made 
about the first, last, and only. But come, come, Harry ; persevere, 
my lad, for the sake of that fair mistress, Honour, whose faith hath 
never yet been broken. To love the lady Maude was no crime, not in 
the least ; for who could help it ? but to expect a high born maiden to 
descend to a jacket and trousers ! Pshaw Harry ! the thing is perfectly 
out of the course of nature ; it is jumping down from the stilts into the 
mud ; it is — " 

" Stop, stop, Sir James, I have already said my dream is over," 
urged Harry, deprecatingly. Yet — yet — I am not wholly to blame ; 
for she told me — " He paused. " No ; it shall ever be locked within 
my own breast. I care not how soon I return." 

" That is certainly very respectful to see the old man who, a little 
while ago, you expressed such anxiety to see," remarked Trelawney 
jocosely. tk But, mind me, Harry, let honest candour ever take prece- 
dence of deception. You will find it the most easy and the most 
honourable in the end. I must now join my friends for a short time, 
but will not be absent long, for I shall love to talk of the Hatch, old 
John Paulet, and past days. Here, take this wine, 'twill cheer your heart; 
and as you are not safe amid the rabble, rest on this couch, and try to sleep 
awhile : there's nothing like balmy slumber to sooth and tranquillize 
a troubled mind. Drink, Harry, drink ; and then to calm repose." 

The young sailor did as he was bid ; he quaffed the rich juice of the 
grape, and Sir James having departed, he laid himself on the soft, 
luxuriant couch. But not to enjoy sweet and refreshing sleep ; there 
was a terrible commotion in his breast, a burning heat within his brain. 
The lady Maude was lost to him for ever, and he now, when too late, 
beheld the boyish folly he had been guilty of, in looking up so high 
above his own grade in society. It is true that thoughts would intrude 
of their first interviews, and the services he had rendered to her father; 
but his generous nature quickly abandoned such reflections, and he 
resolved to render himself still more worthy of being esteemed. 

The following day Harry, accompanied by Sir James Trelawney, 
returned towards Leghorn, where they arrived on the third evening, 
and the youth became aware how impossible it would have been to 
have traversed the distance alone. Sir James explained to the master 
of the brig somewhat of the cause of the young man's absence ; and 
the good-natured seamen not only granted his forgiveness, but also 
promised that the subject should never be revived. The parting 
between Trelawney and his humble companion was distressing to both, 
but Harry received encouragement from the counsels of his friend, and 
became more resigned to circumstances. Shortly afterwards the vessel 
sailed for England, and whilst on the p ussage home the infatuation 
that had bound his faculties was gradually dispelled, but without 
removing the firm devotion of his heart. 



"228 THE OLD SAIIiOLt'G 

Pleasing to the mariner's eye after a first voyage, is the sight of the 
white cliffs of England; it speaks of home, with all its sweet enjoyments, 
and the associations that are engendered are delightful to the mind. 
Harry thought of the cottage and his mother. On arriving in the river 
Thames he hastened to the Hatch, and was most affectionately received ; 
but the widow Paulet whom he had left was the widow Paulet no longer, 
for, finding herself lonely and dejected after her son's departure, Will 
Buntline, by acts of kindness and gentle entreaty, had so wrought upon 
her woman's mind, that she had bestowed her hand upon him. Harry 
felt annoyed at this, and it added to the piognancy of his previous 
regret. He had partly resolved not to leave iris mother again, but to 
look to her that she might solace him in trouble ; but now, though old 
Will was ever solicitous and kind, he felt as if he had no longer a home, 
and had lost all that was estimable upon earth ; in a short time, there- 
fore, he embarked in a ship for New York, which he soon afterwards 
quitted for a small trader to the St. Lawrence, in which river she was 
employed so frequently running up and down, that Harry, devoting 
the whole of his skill to obtain practical information, became an 
excellent pilot, and young as he was, gained considerable fame for 
carrying vessels through dangers that appeared almost impracticable to 
surmount, and henceforward, for some time, he attached himself to this 
pursuit with great success, till he was looked upon as the best pilot in 
the river. 

But the governor of Quebec (then in the hands of the French), 
Mons. Montcalm, aware that young Paulet's experience would be of 
vast importance to the English, should they come to attack the 
settlement, made several attempts to get him under his control — 
advantageous offers, if he would abandon his colours, were first made, 
and received a contemptuous refusal — then stratagem was resorted to, 
for the purpose of seizing him by force, but Harry's vigilance enabled 
him to defeat their schemes, and he was busily engaged in making 
rough drafts of the different channels, when unfortunately the small 
boat he was in was surprised by a French galley — he was made 
prisoner, carried to Quebec, and thrown into a dungeon. Montcalm 
was fully sensible of the knowledge which the young man was in 
possession of, and further endeavours were made to tempt him to 
betray the cause of his country, but without avail ; cruelty was resorted 
to, under a hope of terrifying him into compliance, but with no better 
success ; and Montcalm, fearing that he might escape, at length put 
him on board a vessel that was bound to France with the Governor's 
despatches. 

At first the young man was rigidly confined as a prisoner, but his 
quiet demeanour and amiable disposition won upon the officers, and 
they agreed to liberate him. His intrepidity and seaman-like qualities 
were displayed a few days afterwards in a heavy gale of wind, which 
baffled the skill of the French Captain, and perilled all their lives ; but 
Harry, by his example and activity, encouraged perseverance, and 
though one of their m; st; were carried away, yet they weathered the 
storm, and having ri^gei a jury spar, once more stood for France. 






: JOLLY BOAT. 229 

Thi« brought the young man into further favour, and he was now 
allowed to mess with the passengers in the cabin, and was treated as 
one of themselves. 

Montcalm's despatches, with many other communications, were de- 
posited in a sealed bag, that was suspended from one of the beams abaft ; 
and Harry was not ignorant that they were considered to be of great 
importance to the future security of Canada to the French. Often did 
the Englishman eye them with peculiar longing, and anxious was his 
unremitting look-out for some British vessel of war to approach them, 
for he had resolved to run all risks to seize the despatches, and, by 
throwing himself overboard with them, enjoy a chance of placing the 
whole in possession of his country. His plans were well arranged; and 
though the execution was hazardous in the extreme, yet he felt pretty 
confident of success ; the greatest difficulty appeared to be the 
possibility of the French taking the bag before him, in order to sink it. 

Nothing, however, came in sight to molest them, and they slowly 
pursued their way, baffled by foul weather and contrary winds, till 
their stock of water and provisions began to fail, so that they were 
compelled to run for Vigo Bay, on the coast of Spain. Here they 
anchored to repair the injuries sustained during the voyage, and to 
obtain a necessary supply of what was requisite. Though at no great 
distance from the shore, Harry was suffered to be at liberty ; in fact, 
his unpretending manners had lulled all suspicion, and he was treated 
as a mild, inoffensive man. But much of this had been assumed to 
colour his design, as he had never for one moment lost sight of the 
object he had contemplated, as calculated to be for the good of his 
country. 

The French ship, since her arrival, had hoisted a Spanish ensign, 
which Harry understood was to deceive the Captain of an English 
frigate that was then lying further up the bay, near to the city. This 
intelligence ' quickened his intellects ; it seemed to afford him an 
admirable opportunity to effect his purpose, could he but once get clear 
of the Frenchman. He was well acquainted with his own powers as a 
swimmer, so that the distance gave him no uneasiness ; and once off, 
success seemed certain. Night came ; Harry's eyes were rivetted on 
the bag, but the passengers still lingered about the cabin, and no 
opportunity was offered of moving till they had retired to rest. 
One by one dropped off, but there was a sturdy veteran who 
was so busily engaged in making up for lost time in the victualling 
department, that Harry feared he would never cease. He had himself 
turned into his little bed-place, and pretended to be asleep, but, in 
reality, he was never more vigilant ; and in defiance of his attempts 
at calmness, he could almost hear the violent throbbings of his 
heart. 

At length the gourmand gave over, and after a bumper of brandy 
he laid himself down to sleep upon the locker, just beneath tne 
coveted bag. Harry's pulses beat more tumultuously ; the hazard 
was increased ; but, still undaunted, he resolutely persisted in making 
the attempt. The Frenchmen had enjoyed themselves in a carouse. 



230 THE OLD SAILOR S 

in which wine and brandy were eagerly swallowed, and now their 
slumbers were deep and heavy, as the combined notes of their nasal 
organs amply testified ; in fact, the music was so loud, that they 
threatened to awake one another by the noise. 

Harry cautiously arose. The swinging lamp in am id-ships was 
still burning ; he could hear the tread of the drowsy watch on deck, 
and there was a probability that some sleepless eyes below might 
pry into his movements; he scarcely drew his breath as his naked 
feet touched the deck, and then, with a sharp knife in his hand, he 
walked stealthily towards the table and drank a glass of brandy. At 
this moment the Captain sang out in alarm, " Les Anglais ! les 
Anglais ! mon Dieu ! mon Dieu !" Harry sprang into his berth again, 
convinced that he had been discovered, but it passed off with merely 
a response or two from those whom it had awakened, of " Sacres 
Anglais ; restez tranquille, Monsieur." He had been dreaming of 
the enemy, and fancied they were close aboard of him : glad to find 
that it was not so, he once more composed himself. 

It was some time, however, before Paulet made his second venture, 
and then his agitation had subsided ; he was now calm and deter- 
mined ; there was no hesitation in his manner ; the lamp burnt 
dimly, and all were sound asleep. Again he quitted his berth and 
trod stealthily across the cabin, knife in hand ; but even when the 
eyelids are sealed up, and the body is quiescent, there is a natural 
instinct in the human frame, should any one approach ; a sort of 
warning, which, though it may not entirely arouse the dormant 
faculties, yet generally throws them into action. And so it was with 
the man who was prostrate on the lockers; for the moment Harry 
got near to him he flung out his arm, and the hand would have 
struck him, but that he instantly receded. And now it was that the 
idea presented itself, that if found where he was, with ^ formidable 
weapon, it might be charged against him that he meditated murder — ■ 
and succeeding to this came a suggestion that made him shudder 
and pause — " Should the sleeper awake when he had seized the 
prize, it was only drawing the knife across his throat, and he would 
soon be silenced for ever." It was a fearful, a horrible alternative ; 
and yet he had no other chance for his own life, which he was 
convinced would be forfeited should he be detected in the act of 
plunder, and he had not one instant to lose. The gourmand stretched 
out his limbs, and once more composed himself, without opening his 
eyes ; his neck was bare and exposed ; a ferocious, wolfish feeling, 
crept over the heart of the Englishman ; he no longer hesitated ; 
clutching the knife, and firmly setting his teeth, he cut open the bag 
and removed the important documents, which he bound in stout 
canvas about his body ; he then extinguished the lamp ; and as he 
was already divested of his clothing, with the exception of his shirt, 
he was in readiness for his last effort. Silently and stealthily he 
got upon the lockers, and then, mounting the transom, slowly unclosed 
oue of the stern windows, which he forced down into the slide ; the 
fresh air rushed in over the face of the sleeper and caused a move- 



JOLLY BOAT. 231 

merit, but Harry interposed his person, and the knife was still firmly 
grasped. There was a noise, also, on the cabin ladder, and a large 
Newfoundland dog came quietly in and sprang upon the transom. 
Paulet and he had been frequently playmates, and the animal seemed 
sensible that they were about to part, for he whined and rubbed his 
head against the Englishman's shoulder, as if bidding him " farewell." 
Another apprehension now forced itself upon the prisoner's heart ; 
the dog was much attached to him, and the probability was, that 
when he reached the water, the creature would leap after him. Still 
the trial must be made ; and thrusting his body out of the window, 
he lowered himself to the full length of his arms, till his feet occa- 
sionally touched the briny element ; here he hung for several seconds, 
listening to ascertain if any one on deck was near the stern. Ail 
was still and silent ; he let go his hold ; the noise of his fall was not 
greater than the wash of waters on the rudder, but the dog moaned, 
and then gave a short, sharp growl, and Harry feared that it was a 
prelude to his dashing overboard, but he remained where he was ; 
no one appeared to have been disturbed, and the Englishman floated 
away with the tide, which was running strong up the Bay. As 
soon, however, as he had gained a proper distance, he struck out 
with ail his energy, and in a short interval the masts and hull of the 
Frenchman were lost sight of in the gloom ; and though he could 
not perceive the shipping up the Bay, yet the lights of the city 
guided his course, and the prospects of success operated to strengthen 
his resolves. 

Upwards of an hour was the young mariner floating and swim- 
ming ; but nature could not be taxed beyond human endurance ; he 
began to suffer from exhaustion, utill he persevered, hope and enter- 
prise animating his spirits ; he sorely felt the want of previous 
practice; and the confinement he had suffered, as well as the privations 
of a long voyage, had greatly weakened his frame. More than once 
a sickly faintness came over him, bringing with it a harassing and 
distressing dread that he would be unable to accomplish the task he 
had undertaken ; and repeatedly, as some monster of the deep darted 
from his forward track, the horror inspired by fears of the voracious 
shark sent a convulsive thrill through his whole system. The wind 
came in short, fitful gusts, moaning around his head ; the waves 
frequently broke over him, and still nothing but the distant lights 
were to be seen. Sometimes he feared that he had missed the ships, 
and doubt and uncertainty oppressed and perplexed him ; then, again, 
he renewed his exertions, animated by the thoughts of serving his 
country, and boldly were his sinewy arms plied to propel hi'u 
onwards. 

And now his heart was cheered by the long, towering spar, and 
light tracery against the sky, of a large ship, as she laid at her moor- 
ings, heaving and setting to the swell of the sea. It only required a 
trifling deviation from his course, and he very soon had approached 
near enough to be convinced that it was the English frigate, and all 
apprehensions of failure immediately subsided. Throwing himself on 



232 THE OLD SAILOE'S 

his back he floated towards her unperceived ; and when beneath the 
bows, holding on by the cable, he hailed " Ship, ahoy ! " There was 
at first no response ; but Harry became sensible that he had aroused 
attention by the bustle on the deck, and in a minute or two a man 
looked over, exclaiming, " Halloo ! " 

" What ship is this ?" demanded the escaped prisoner. 

" His Britannic Majesty's frigate, the Mermaid," answered the man, 
eagerly trying to pierce the darkness so as to gain a sight of the 
inquirer. " Pray who the deuce are you, and where are you bound to, 
if the wind holds ? " 

" I have reached my destination," returned Harry, as he got astride 
the cable ; "let me rest awhile where I am, and then I will come on 
board." 

"It is but a strange hammock that you are swinging in," replied 
the man, " but mayhap you have been accustomed to sleep with the 
gulls. However, you have not told me who you are, nor what you 
want, grubbing atwixt the bows like a blue shark nosing a piece of 
pork." 

" I must be better acquainted with you before I am too commu- 
nicative," said Paulet, shaking the spray from his shoulders. 

" Have you come in from sea," inquired the man, jeeringly ; " or 
have you swam off from the shore ? " 

" I have only just come in from sea," replied Harry, as a spice of 
his former love of frolic whetted his taste for repartee ; " and have 
brought despatches for the Captain." 

" That's a tough-un, any how," mumbled the man to a shipmate at 
his side ; and then continued, in a tone of banter, " You're from 
England, I suppose." 

" I am," responded Paulet, in a manner that set the inquirer's con- 
jectures into operation. 

" And how long is it, my hearty, since you left it?" asked the other, 
half believing, half doubting. 

" Rather more than eighteen months," answered Harry with 
firmness. 

The person addressed gave vent to a hearty laugh, in which he was 
joined by several others who had now collected together. 

" A precious long swim you must have had of it," said he ; " your 
despatches must be very novel and interesting arter a couple o'years' 
cruise." 

" I have been out to Canada before I came here," avowed Harry. 

" The deuce you have," uttered the man in evident surprise, which 
was partaken of by the rest. " Why what a swimmer you must be. 
Mavhap you can tell us what craft that is as is laying in the mouth of 
the Bay?" 

" I can do that too," returned Harry positively ; " it is an armed 
craft, carrying the French King's pennant. We left Quebec in 
company." 

" Well I'm blowed, but that bangs everything," observed the man ; 
and exclamations of wonder were heard on every side. " But bear-a- 



JOLLY BOAT. 233 

hand on board, my hearty. Here's the officer as wants to whisper a 
word in your ear ; and I'm bless'd but I should like to have a look at 
you myself, to see whether it is ould Davy or not." 

" In welcome," exclaimed Harry, as he popped up his face close to 
the seaman's ; who, not being aware that Paulet was ascending, 
shrank back with alarm. " Here I am, brother, but it's a cool greeting 
that you are giving to an old friend ;.pray what do you think of my 
horns ? " 

The man receded still further, whilst several tried to urge him to 
actual inspection. 

" Come, no starn-boards, Jem," exclaimed one ; " clap the beggar 
alongside, and overhaul his head-gear to see if he's got his bumkins 
rigged out." 

" Clap your hand down abaft, Jem, and try and diskiver whether 
he's got a spanker boom," said another. But further investigation and 
remark were suspended by the young sailor springing over the bulwark, 
and placing his feet firmly on the forecastle. And there he stood in a 
state of nudity, with the purloined despatches of Montcalm closely 
strapped to his back. 

" My eyes," said an old tar ; " well, if it don't — I'm blessed but it 
does beat all as ever I heard on ; and see, shipmates, he's got his 
purser's steward-room lashed to his shoulders. I never knew but one 
who made a long voyage in that fashion, and he went out from Ply- 
mouth to the fleet off the Cape of Good Hope ; but he was obligated 
to touch at Saint Helena for provisions and water on his passage 
home." 

" Lend us a down-hauler," exclaimed Harry, as he advanced to the 
break of the forecastle. " Don't all hands offer at once — one at a time 
will do ; but I'm always very cold when I quit the water, which I do 
about every six months." A thick rough great coat was handed to 
him, which he instantly put on. "And now," said he, "for the 
quarter-deck and the officer." 

He went aft, and w r as questioned by the Lieutenant of the watch, 
but he declined making any statements except to the Captain himself; 
and this being reported to the latter, Harry was conducted down into 
the great cabin, where he tendered his information, and the Captain 
ordered the frigate to be unmoored, and got under weigh as quietly 
and as quickly as possible. He then dressed himself, and having perused 
the documents, he sent for the clerks into his cabin, and set them to 
work in copying the whole, so that if the original set should be lost, 
there might still a duplicate remain. He presented Paulet with 
a handsome suit of scarlet, trimmed with velvet and richly embroidered 
with gold, as well as fine shirts and other apparel, and directed him to 
be in readiness to proceed to the shore, and, when landed, to make all 
haste to Lisbon, where the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Edward (after- 
wards Lord) Hawke, was then expected to be , and money was 
plentifully supplied for the purpose of defraying all expenses. 

Harry was soon arrayed, and made no contemptible figure in his 
new attire. The barge landed him at the city, a conveyance was 
3U 



231 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

prepared, and he set out on his journey for Oporto, purposing; to go 
the remainder of the distance by sea. At this time Spain was inimical 
to British interests, and, consequently, had Paulet's errand been known 
time enough to the Spaniards, in ail probability he would have been 
waylaid and murdered. As it was, the moment the Frenchmen 
missed him, and saw that the despatches had been abstracted from the 
bag, they at once came to the right conclusion that the prisoner had 
carried them off; and two officers were put on shore without delay to 
pursue, as they supposed, the fugitive; and advice was given of the 
circumstance to the Spanish authorities, who sent out scouts in all 
directions to intercept him. The Frenchmen did not entertain a 
thought of his having swam to the frigate, but merely supposed that he 
had made for the nearest land. They soon, however, ascertained on 
board how affairs really stood, for by daybreak the Mermaid had 
worked out along the northern side of the Bay, and stretching across, 
anchored close to the French ship to watch her movements ; for being 
in a neutral port, it would have been a breach of the law of nations to 
have attacked her. Nothing could equal the surprise of the Monsieurs 
by this visit, which precluded the possibility of their going to sea, as 
they well knew that the frigate would not only bear them company, 
but also make a prize of them the moment they had got to a proper 
distance from the coast. 

Harry pushed on unmolested, but swift pursuit was made after him. 
Once in Portugal, however, he had but little cause for fear, and arrived 
in safety at Oporto, where, in obedience to the written commands of 
the Captain of the Mermaid, he repaired on board a sloop-of-war, 
which instantly sailed for Lisbon ; but when about midway between 
the two places, the English fleet was seen, and a signal was made to 
the Admiral. Before many hours had elapsed Harry had an interview 
with Sir Edward Hawke ; another copy of the despatches was taken, 
and the sloop-of-war ordered to convey Harry Paulet to England. 

The young seaman had now become an important personage, and 
was treated with great distinction, so that his heart swelled with pride 
when he thought of his mother and the lady Maude ; though in the 
latter instance, a mingling of deep regret nearly overwhelmed the 
pleasure. They made a quick passage to Falmouth, from whence he 
set out for the Metropolis ; but it took him a full week to reach the 
latter place, and he hastened at once to the Admiralty, and was intro- 
duced to the First Commissioner, Lord Anson ; who, having glanced 
over the purloined documents, hurried Harry to the Palace, and 
presented him privately to the King, George the Second. Paulet told 
his story from the time of his being made prisoner to the period and 
manner of his escape, and the Monarch, as well as the First Lord, was 
so pleased with his conduct, that he was rewarded with the rank and 
pay of a Naval Lieutenant, to continue during his life, and Lord 
Anson took him home to dine with him. 

It was near sunset when, stealing away from the company, he 
sought the spot of his early years, and stood on the stairs where he 
had first beheld the lady Maude. Feelings and recollections of former 



JOLLY EOAT. 235 

days came with vigorous energy over his mind, arid, forgetting his gay 
attire, he leaned over the balustrade from whence he had contemplated 
the setting sun on that very evening, as its last beams shone brightly 
through the arch of the new bridge at Westmiuster. He was then 
but a waterman's apprentice, though a happy one ; and now there 
again was the glorious luminary, shedding its brilliant effulgence on 
the waters, exactly as it had done before ; but, notwithstanding only a 
few years had elapsed, he was now, by his own meritorious acts, 
elevated to be an officer, with a competence to subsist on. 

Retrospection was busy with him ; he looked back to the season of child- 
hood, when his worthy father, old John Paulet, was living ; he thought 
of James Trueman being his early friend, and whom he had since known 
as Sir James Trelawney ; he had witnessed change after change in others, 
and now he himself had undergone a change — an unexpected one, that 
had made a vast improvement in his condition. And then his memory 
reverted to his mother ; and still he remained abstracted from the world, 
and gazing at the departed orb as it descended down the west. 

Suddenly he was aroused from his dream by a voice close to him 
tittering the usual intimation, " Boat, your honour ;" and the never- 
forgotten sounds came thrilling upon the young man's heart. It was 
his former excellent old master — the husband of his mother — honest 
"Will Bu'ntline. Stepping into the wherry without further prelude, 
Harry was soon in the middle *of the stream. He did not perceive 
much alteration in the features of the veteran, except that he looked 
more contented and happy, but his personal appearance was consider- 
ably improved, for his dress was more neat and clean than it used to 
be. Harry, however, was greatly altered ; the spring of youth had 
in due course been- succeeded by the ripe summer of manhood, that 
had browned the cheeks and reddened the complexion ; the dress, too, 
had effected an immense alteration, so that "Will did not in the 
remotest degree recognize the young apprentice in the gay attire of 
the^ handsome gallant, arrayed in fine scarlet and gold. Besides, 
twilight-was creeping on, and the gradually deepening shades were 
throwing objects into gloom, and Harry had not yet spoken. 

"A: beautiful evening, your honour," said old^Will, as he rowed 
upwards towards the bridge ; and his passenger was thinking of that 
hour when, handling the oar, he had sat upon his thwart, stealing 
glances at the lady Maude, and then reverting to subsequent events, 
in which the bloody scene on the scaffold was prominent. He heard 
the veteran's remark ; but, absorbed in his own reflections, he did not 
reply to it, and the veteran, judging he did not wish to be disturbed, 
remained for several minutes silent. 

Harry had given no directions as to where he would wish to be 
conveyed, but the waterman slowly propelled the boat upwards till 
near the middle arch, over which the busy throng was now passing, 
and the human hum came drowsily upon the ears. 

"Will you go any higher up, Sir?" asked Will. 

"No, no, my friend," returned Harry, aroused oy the question 5 
" we will drift down again, if you please.'" 



236 • THE OLD SAILOIl'S 

The veteran, whose memory had perhaps been engaged upon the 
same occurrences as those which occupied young Paulet's reverie, 
started at the sound of the voice, and resting on his sculls, gazed 
eagerly at his passenger. " It is strange," said he " very strange ; 
but yet — no, no, it cannot be ; " and he vigorously plied his toil, as if 
to throw off a weight of anxiety that was oppressing him ; in two or 
three minutes, however, he ceased, and said, " I beg your honours 
pardon, you wished to drift with the current, and here am I pulling 
away as if it was for life or death." 

" For life or death,*' repeated Harry ; iS how can y§u, who must 
have always lived so peaceably, know what it is to do so ? surely your 
experience cannot have extended to that." 

The old man shook his head and moaned. " I could tell your 
honour a different story," observed he. " One who has sarved his 
country in flotillas near the shore, and in the line of battle on the 
ocean, ought to know a little about life and death. But I'm getting in 
years now, and the waterman's labour is not required as it used to be 
before they got the new-fangled notions in their heads of coaches and 
bridges, that's capsizing all decent propriety on the public highways. 
Ah me ! I fear it will be fatal to the realm at last, and so I used to tell 
young Harry ; he was my apprentice, your honour, and a better lad 
never took a skull in hand, barring a little bit of the monkey now and 
then ; " and the veteran chuckled. " But then, what youth is there 
that doesn't love a bit of mischief? and his poor father — gallant Jack, 
as we used to call him in the owld Hooker — taught the boy many a droll 
trick." $s* 1 

" And where is Harry now ? " inquired the young Lieutenant ; 
assuming a carelessness he was far from feeling — "got a wherry of 
his own, I suppose." 

"I wish I could tell where he was," returned Buntline ; "it would 
be taking a taut strain off the standing backstays of this owld heart ; 
a strain that at times threatens to carry them away altogether ; for I 
loved the lad, your honour ; God knows how much I loved him :" and 
the veteran's chuckle of pleasure was changed for a trembling utterance 
of deep emotion, that nearly destroyed young Paulet's firmness ; " ho 
went to sea, Sir ; we have not heard of him for a long wearisome time, 
and but for a secret sort of confab that my mind keeps up with his'n, 
I should think he was no more. But often when I'm on the river 
o'nights, I hears the sounds of his tongue upon the murmuring breeze ; 
aye, just as I thought I heard it this evening, when your honour first 
spoke, for the two are marvellously alike, only yours is a little rougher. 
Often, I say, when the breeze is speaking to me, and I hear him hail 
me as he was wont to do, with the joyous gladness of willing youth, 
I know that he is still in existence, and there is a communion of spirit 
atwixt us ; I used to tell his mother so, poor thing" — Harry's pulses 
throbbed tumultuously — " but she, alas ! alas ! — " 

I " What ? what ? speak, old man ; what of his mother ? I love to 
hear of mothers," exclaimed Harry with impatience. " I have had a 
fond, indulgent mother, myself." 



JOLLY BOAT. 237 

** As kind a creature, your honour, as ever broke bread," said Imnt- 
line, with affectionate tenderness. " Gallant Jack died some years ago; 
young Harry, as I told you, went to sea, and so I married the widow." 

"Well, well, I know all that," said the newly-made Lieutenant, 
completely thrown off his guard. " Why do you trifle with me ? Is 
she safe ? is she well ? " 

" As sound as a roach, your honour," answered Buntline proudly, 
" and as good as an angel." Though what affinity there was between 
roaches and angels honest Will never thought it worth while to 
inquire ; he might have coupled anchovies and cherubims, with equal 
propriety. 

" Father of mercies, I thank thee!" fervently uttered the affectionate 
son. " Master Buntline, I will no longer attempt secrecy or conceal- 
ment ; Harry Paulet is here before you." * 

44 E-h — wha-at P exclaimed the veteran falteringly ; " Harry — 
Harry Paulet — safe, well, and a gentleman ? I knew he was alive and 
kicking — I told her so, your honour — that's Harry, I mean. Oh ! 
what joy will this be to the poor mourner. God bless you, Sir — that's 
Harry, I would say — Harry Paulet ; " and falling on his knees in the 
boat, he clasped his hard, horny hands together, whilst his heart, 
softened by a rich flow of feelings, uttered a silent prayer of gratitude 
to Heaven ; and then grasping the hand of the Lieutenant, he wept. 

Explanations ensued ; Harry briefly narrated the cause of his present 
good fortune, and old Will's lieart was overflowing with delight. 

M And now, my son, let us hasten to your mother," said the veteran, 
" she has grieved incessantly ; and I say, Harry, it is something that's 
worth enjoying to get a good woman into a good humour. Oh, my boy, 
I am so happy ; so very happy ; and now we'll away to the Hatch. 
Hurrah ; my heart's as light as a cork." 

It did not occupy old Will very long to row to the stairs on tho 
Lambeth side, where they landed, and the Lieutenant, falling into the 
train of former times, assisted in mooring the boat. 

This accomplished, they walked up to the cottage and rattled <\t the 
wicket. With palpitating heart Harry beheld the approach of his 
parent, and he drew on one side that he might not attract attention, 
so as to cause too great a surprise, for a mother's perceptions are more 
keen than those of any human being. He heard her speak, and the 
sound of her voice awakened many and endearing reminiscences of by- 
gone days. 

" I have good news for you, dame," said old Will, as he entered the 
wicket ; "news that I think will gladden your heart." 

*' The best news you could bring me, Master Buntline, would be of 
my poor boy," replied his wife, as Will stood lingering in the way, so 
as to prevent the shutting of the gate. 

" And why shouldn't I bring intelligence of him, dame ? " de- 
manded Buntline. " Didn't I tell you we should hear of him again ? 
Haven't I always said that he was alive ? and wasn't you angry with 
me because I would stick to my text, if it was only to comfort you? 
And pray, good mistress — •" -....' 



233 THE old sailor's 

*' There now, let me beg of you not to get to preaching, William," 
said his wife; "but come in, and tell me what you have heard. Is he 
indeed safe and well ? and shall I see him soon ? Oh ! satisfy the 
earnest longings of a mother's heart." 

" He is both safe and well, and you will soon see him," answered 
Buntline with great delight ; but stop, I have a gentleman here 
without, who can give you every information ; walk forward, Captain, 
if you please." 

The title by which old Will had designated the Lieutenant, served 
to deceive the dame in her sudden supposition that the visitor might 
be her son ; and when Harry presented himself, the glimmering of 
the twilight showed him in his splendid scarlet suit, and completed 
the delusion. Besides, the worthy woman had borne him in remem- 
brance as the stripling she had parted with, and now there stood 
before her the full-formed man. 

" You are welcome, Sir," said she; "all — all are welcome who 
can bring me tidings of my son ; where — where is he?" 

" Here, mother, here!" exclaimed the Lieutenant, as he caught her 
in his arms. " Here I am, returned to my home once more to make 
you happy." 

Mrs Buntline needed no other evidence than her ears to satisfy 
her as to his identity ; the voice was enough ; and, clasping him iw 
her embrace, she wept with joy. They were soon seated in the 
cottage, where Harry narrated at length the whole of his adventures ; : 
and proud was his mother's heart as she exclaimed, "Qh ! had your 
father but have lived to have seen this day, my happiness would be' 
complete. Pardon me, husband, I mean no reproach to you !" for 
old Bill looked rather mortified ; " you have been to me a kind, and; 
considerate friend, but John Paulet was his sire, and you know* with- 
all bis imperfections, how highly I esteemed him." 

'• And good right too, dame," responded Buntline. " John was' 
my old shipmate and messmate, and no man fore-and-aft was better 
respected ; to be sure, he got hold of the new-fangled notions, but he 
was honest and good for all that." 

It was late at night, or rather, it was early morning before they 
went to rest, and Harry never slept sounder than when in his own 
snug bed-room at the cottage — the cool air sweetened by the fragrance 
of the many flowers that blossomed around. He arose much refreshed, 
and after partaking of a hearty meal, old Will rowed him to White- 
hall stairs, as he had been commanded to attend and give evidence 
before the Privy Council. He first waited upon Lord Anson, at 
the Admiralty, whom he accompanied to the Palace at Saint James's. 
The Council was not numerously attended, and the leading inquirers 
were the Duke of Newcastle, Lord Granville, and the First Lord of 
the Admiralty. Every question was promptly and cleverly answered, 
especially relative to the navigation of the Saint Lawrence, and the 
practicability of carrying a fleet up the river, and also as to certain 
localities in the neighbourhood of Quebec. The issue of this investi- 
gation was not communicated, but that some decision had been come 



JOLLY BOAT. 239 

to was evident, as Lord Anson had inquired whether he would 
undertake to return again to Canada as the Admiral's pilot, with 
ample remuneration, and the prospect of promotion. To this he 
had consented ; his pay and emoluments immediately commenced, 
and he occupied his leisure time in re-drawing from memory the plans 
and charts which he had already made, and maturing his judgment 
by the perusal of hydrographical works. He was also introduced 
to Sir Charles Saunders, Vice-Admiral of the Blue, who had been 
appointed Commander-in-Chief of an expedition to act against Quebec ; 
and he now ascertained that this had been determined upon in conse- 
quence of the intelligence contained in Governor Montcalm's 
despatches, which he had brought home. 

At length the period arrived for his departure, and he once more 
bade farewell to his mother, whom he now left amply provided for, 
though she could not be induced to quit the cottage at the Hatch ; 
nor would old Will altogether resign his occupation at the ferry. 
He had a last interview with the Privy Council, received his final 
instructions, and then went down to join the Neptune of ninety-eight 
guns, carrying the Admiral's flag. It was the first time he had ever 
been on board so fine or so large a ship, and the magnificence of its 
structure, as well as the grandeur of its arrangements, astonished 
and delighted him. But with these feelings also eame a full per- 
suasion of the responsibility he should incur, by navigating a ship 
in the Saint Lawrence of so deep a draft of water. But relying on 
bis practical knowledge, he was determined not to shrink from the 
full execution of his duty. The fleet, consisting of eight sail of the 
line, besides frigates, sloops, and numerous transports with troops, 
sailed, and being joined by those already on the coast, amounted to 
twenty-one line-of-battle ships, and the whole flotilla was grand 
and effective. Lieutenant Paulet acquitted himself entirely to the 
satisfaction of the Admiral, and especially, on one occasion, when the 
disembarkation took place on the island of Orleans ; the enemy sent 
floating down the river several fire-vessels, which, in the manner the 
fleet was lying, threatened terrible destruction ; but Harry promptly 
obtained command of the men-of-war's boats, and took the fire-crafts 
in tow to a place where they grounded and spent their fury without 
doing the slightest injury, A month subsequent to this, a second 
attempt was made to burn the fleet, by means of fire-stages, which to 
the number of a hundred were set adrift in the current, but the enemy 
had no better success than before ; the purpose was totally defeated. 
The reduction of Quebec, and the death of the lamented General 
Wolfe, are matters of history ; the navy took but little part in the 
actual siege, and when the British flag waved upon the upper and lower 
town, and every arrangement was made for keeping possession, the 
fleet sailed for England, and Harry accompanied the Admiral home; 
his services were so highly esteemed, that George the Third, on coming 
to the throne, by an order in Council made him a Post Captain, and he 
•was appointed to the command of the Mermaid, the very frigate that 
hud received him in Vigo Bay with Montcalm's despatches. 



240 THE OLD SAILOR S 

Mrs. Buntline was again a widow ; old Will had calmly resigned 
existence in sure and certain hope of a blessed immortality. By dint 
of hard industry and Harry's bounty, he had been enabled to save a 
little money, which he bequeathed to his wife ; and Harry, being now 
in a situation to maintain her suitable to his station in life, he would 
have taken a handsome house in the neighbourhood for her to reside 
in, but she still clung to the cottage, and could not be prevailed upon 
to quit it. He therefore wished to enlarge and improve it ; but she 
loved it best in its primitive state, and could not endure the thoughts 
of alteration. Many comforts, however, and even luxuries, were 
added ; the farming of the Halfpenny Hatch was given up to an aged 
couple, and the widow, with her servant, lived in quiet retirement in 
their rural abode. The small dwelling, in which the lady Maude and 
her father had been concealed, had, by Harry's request, been kept in 
repairs and clean, but no one except himself had tenanted it. 

The Mermaid sailed with her new Commander to join his friend and 
patron, Sir Charles Saunders, in the Mediterranean ; and here a further 
opportunity was offered him of gaining renown, for, whilst cruising off 
Toulon, a French seventy-four and a large frigate hove in sight, 
running for the harbour. On seeing the Mermaid they hauled towards 
her; and Harry, perceiving the odds to be so great against him, had no 
alternative but to run away. The strangers hoisted French colours, 
and came after him in eager pursuit, the frigate taking the lead by 
several miles of the line-of-battle ship. This was precisely what Harry 
desired, for he hoped to draw the former away from the latter, and 
exchange a broadside or two with her. Nor was his wish ungratified, 
for a sudden squall coming on, the seventy-four lost her mainmast, and 
in the midst of the war of elements the two frigates commenced a 
desperate engagement. After a few rounds, however, the Frenchman 
hove round to rejoin his damaged consort, but Captain Paulet would 
not part with him so readily, and in spite of his manoeuvres he ran 
aboard the enemy, and succeeded in lashing the frigates together In 
twenty minutes the mizen mast of the enemy was over the side, and 
the bowsprit of the Mermaid being carried away, brought down the 
fore topmast. Thus crippled, with rigging and sails cut almost to 
pieces, they continued the fight, whilst the seventy-four was clearing 
away her wreck, in order to crush the little English ship ; but before 
this could be effected, Le Junon, of forty guns, had struck her colours, 
rnd was in possession of the Mermaid. Still there was not much 
chance for Harry to get away, and still less to carry off his prize ; 
there they laid, utterly disabled, and the seventy-four was using every 
endeavour to approach. The Captain's usual good fortune, however, 
again came to his assistance ; a large ship was seen standing in from 
sea, and soon afterwards a whole fleet, which could be none other than 
that under Sir Charles Saunders. The Commander of the seventy-four 
was aware of this, and immediately changed his pursuit into flight, 
leaving Paulet unmolested with his well-earned trophy. 

Sir Charles Saunders, on coming up, was delighted with the exploit, 
and expressed himself in terms of warm approbation at the conduct of 



JOLLY EOAT. 241 

the young Captain. Harry was sent with his prize to Gibraltar to 
refit, and ultimately proceed to England, when George the Third 
knighted him for his gallantry, and thus the son of a British seaman 
rose to honour and distinction. His mother's pride and joy knew 
no bounds; the title, "Sir Harry," was constantly on her tongue, 
and she suffered herself to be escorted about by the brave Knight 
to many a distinguished party, to whose society she never expected 
to be introduced, sharing with delight his praises and his honours. 
And now, had the Captain been so inclined, he might have made 
an advantageous match with a lady of rank and fortune ; but his heart 
seemed dead to the softer emotions of affection, notwithstanding that 
youth, beauty, and wealth, awaited his acceptance. 

The Junon, a remarkably fine frigate, was commissioned in the 
English Navy, and Sir Harry Paulet appointed to command her. 
Again he proceeded to the Mediterranean, and joined Sir Charles 
Saunders, who treated him with great consideration, and sent him 
to cruise upon his old station. But the naval power of France was 
annihilated in that part of the world, and there was no possibility 
afforded of displaying the bravery of his character; still he was 
enabled, by the capture of several valuable prizes, to increase his 
wealth. 

At length a treaty of peace between the two countries was signed 
at Fontainebleau ; the Admiral returned home with the fleet, and 
the Junon and some other frigates were left to protect the English 
commerce in those seas. This afforded him an opportunity, which he 
had long wished for, of re-visiting Rome ; and the first use he made of 
his free authority was to sail for Civita Vecchia, from whence he tra- 
velled by land to the city, in which he had only a few years before been 
a houseless wanderer. On his arrival he made repeated inquiries for 
Sir James Trelawney, but could gain no information respecting him, 
nor of the Lord Eustace de Vere, nor of the lady Maude. All he 
could learn was, that Prince Charles was leading a dissipated life at 
Florence. After strolling over the scenes of his former rambles, he 
returned to the ship, got under weigh, and ran along-shore for Leghorn, 
where the appearance of a large frigate, under English colours, caused 
some little sensation, particularly as a French seventy-four was then 
lying in the roads, and each fired a salute in honour of their several 
flags. It was also a curious meeting, for in the French ship Harry 
recognized the consort of the Junon when he captured her ; she was 
not, however, commanded by the same Captain, and the two officers 
behaved to each other with much good-feeling and courtesy. Sir 
Harry was invited to dine on board the seventy-four, and all the 
respectable English gentlemen and merchants at Leghorn were solicited 
to meet him at table. 

At the appointed hour the barge of the Junon, manned by as fine a 
set of fellows as ever trod a vessel's deck, all dressed for the occasion, 
pulled alongside the French line-of-battle ship, and Sir Harry was 
received with that respect and attention which the brave always 
manifest towards each other. The quarter-deck was crowded with 
31 



242 THE OLD SAILOIt'S 

visitors and officers desirous of seeing and being introduced to the 
gallant young Captain. They were all strangers, with the exception of 
one, whom Paulet immediately selected out, though he himself did not 
appear to be recognized ; that individual was his old and worthy friend 
Sir James Trelawney. Without hesitation, Harry walked up to him 
and extended his hand. 

" Did I not tell you, Sir James," said he, " that you should have no 
cause to be ashamed of the lad whom you took so much trouble to 
instruct ? " 

The Baronet bent a keen, eager gaze upon the speaker. " Surely 
it cannot be ; and yet it must, and is, the same. My heart and soul 
lejoices in your prosperity, but more so in the meritorious acts that 
have elevated you. This is, indeed, a joyous hour to me ; I little 
thought to meet, in the conqueror and Captain of yon frigate, the 
son of your excellent father. But I will not engross the whole of 
your time ; others wish to speak to you ; and unless your exaltation 
has greatly changed you, an interval will be granted when we can 
talk more at our ease." 

?' To you, Sir James Trelawney, am I mainly indebted for what I 
now am," returned the Captain ; " and rely upon it, the debt of 
gratitude will never be forgotten by me. When these formalities 
have ceased, I must request the favour of your company with me to 
the Junon, for I have much— much to talk about ; " he added in a 
lower tone, as he pressed the Baronet's hand, " had she only waited, 
she would have found me worthy of her love." 

" And you had it. Harry ; it was really and truly your own," an- 
swered Trelawney in the same low tone. " It was circumstances 
alone ; her father's destitution — her own unprotected state ; and — 
but they are now both gone to answer for all things before the Judge of 
quick and dead." 

A marked paleness succeeded the flush on the cheeks of Captain 
Paulet ; a sickly faintness came upon his heart. Sir James Trelawney 
saw it on the instant, and divined the cause ; he had spoken of the 
departed confusedly ; but mentioned no names. He now corrected his 
error, and uttered, " The lady Maude still lives, a beautiful widow ; 
it is Lord Eustace de Vere and her father who have gone to their 
last resting-place on earth." 

The sudden revulsion of feeling, on hearing this intelligence, 
almost overpowered the Captain, but the painful sensations were 
gone, and, mastering his agitation, he again warmly pressed the 
Baronet's hand, and passed on to the banquet. Everything was 
most admirable, and the utmost cordiality prevailed ; the flags of 
the two nations were entwined with each other, and all that art and 
luxury could bestow, was freely called in to grace the festival. It 
was late before they broke up, and then Sir James accompanied his 
young friend to the Junon, where explanations ensued, and Harry 
learned the particulars of lady Maude's union with Lord Eustace, 
whilst her warmest aifections had been devoted to another. She 
had recently embarked for England, to live on the estates and for- 



JOLLY BOAT. 213 

tune bequeathed to her by her late husband, who had died before 
her father ; and it was only on the demise of the latter that she had 
considered herself at liberty to return to the land of her nativity. 
Sir James, too, was on the eve of doing the same, for an amnesty had 
been granted, and he was about to avail himself of it ; and the Cap- 
tain of the Junon insisted upon his taking a passage to Gibraltar iu 
the frigate. 

In a day or two Sir Harry Paulet gave a splendid entertainment 
on board his ship to the French officers and a large party, in which 
the same kindly sentiment and unanimity prevailed. Invitations to 
festivals and banquets on shore followed, and were accepted; for Sir 
Harry was anxious to cherish the friendship that existed, for the sake 
of the English merchants ; but he was really glad when he could get 
away without causing offence, and Sir James Trelawney became his 
guest. On reaching Gibraltar the Junon was ordered home, and the 
two friends still continued together. But we must now go back a 
little in our history. 

The evening the lady Maude had granted an interview with Harry 
in the cottage garden, she had confessed her attachment to the youth ; 
and though no vows passed, yet they mutually considered themselves 
bound to each other. Lord Eustace had long been her suitor, but she 
never truly loved him ; he had followed her to Rome, and found both 
the father and the daughter in a state of degrading poverty. He had 
wealth and high birth in his favour ; the distresses of the father urged 
him to press his daughter's acceptance of the young nobleman ; and 
his persuasions, but more the abject situation in which he was placed, 
induced her compliance, though she had confessed to Sir James 
Trelawney that another had possession of her heart. After the death 
of her husband and father, Lady de Vere returned to England, and 
retired to a beautiful seat in the country without molestation. Nume- 
rous suitors had offered themselves, but she declined all overtures, and 
lived almost secluded from the world. 

It was on a splendid summer evening that a carriage and four drove 
up to the Hall entrance, and two gentlemen alighted from it, one of 
whom was in a rich naval uniform. The lady Maude at once recog- 
nized Sir James Trelawney, who, a few minutes afterwards, introduced 
the officer as Captain Sir Harry Paulet. At first there was a little 
embarrassment, but the warm gush of undying regard quickly banished 
all unpleasant emotions, and from that hour Harry was her accepted 
lover. In a few months they were united, an attached and happy pair ; 
and dame Buntline, though now advanced in years, led off the ball in 
honour of the wedding, with Sir James Trelawney, who she still 
persisted in calling Master Trueman. Modern improvements swept 
the Halfpenny Hatch away ; the gardens of former days are now 
covered with houses, and nothing remains except the ancient wharf 
and the Crown public-house at Pedlar's Acre. 



2-i-i IHE OLD SAILOH'O 



A CHAPTER ON BUCCANEERING. 



"You are a vagabond, and no traveller ; you are more saucy with lords and honour- 
able personages than the heraldry of your birth and virtues gives you commission,"— 
... - . Shae.espe.ire. 



Various accounts have been given of the origin of Buccaneering, and 
from whence the practice derived its name. Certain it is, that the 
attainment of Spanish gold was the object; and even the crowned 
heads of England thought it no degradation to be a sort of sleeping 
partners in the concern. The history of the Buccaneers presents one of 
the most astonishing instances of daring, intrepid, and reckless men, 
forming themselves into a community of plunderers, and, though 
outraging all laws as it respected others, yet themselves submitting to 
strict regulations, and binding themselves to be obedient to command. 

The discovery of a new world of wealth by Columbus and his 
successors, quickly seated the Spanish colonies on both sides of the 
vast continent of America, whose principal object was to grasp the 
precious metals which were found in abundance within the bowels 
of the earth. Here, then, was opened a lucrative market for the 
sale of negroes from Africa, who were condemned for the remainder 
of their existence to toil in the mines, which they were never allowed 
to quit, and for whom the sun shone uselessly in the heavens, for they 
never, after descending to their dreary tombs, saw his cheering smile 
diffusing joy and comfort over the face of creation, or felt the warmth 
of his soul-delighting beams. Avarice and cruelty went hand in hand ; 
the living were cut off from the rest of the world ; and, whilst human 
sympathies and human feelings still glowed in their breasts, they were 
dead and buried to all beyond their sphere of unmitigated misery. 
Nor were negroes alone consigned to these sepulchres of hope, for they 
became a means of punishment for political offences ; a Siberia of 
endless, chilling desolation. Talk of the severe code of British laws ! 
What can exceed the horrible endurance of a lingering life, cut off from 
all social intercourse, and even from the light of day ; the frame 
wasting away with pain, disease, and the sickness arising from hope 
deferred ; the mind still strong to suffering, though gradually sinking 
into the last depth of despair ; the emaciated breast heaving to the 
convulsive throes of a breaking heart. 

This is no imaginary picture ; I have seen it at the gold mines of 
San Paulo, in Brazil, and it is not many years since, that the bound- 
aries of that mining district might be traced by the perishing remains 
of human skeletons bleaching in the sun, and wind, and rain. There 
is but little gold got from thence now, and the fragments of humanity 






JOLLY BOAT. 245 

have been used to enrich the soil for the purposes of agriculture. It 
is true, that this is a melancholy subject, and therefore my readers may 
urge that it is opposed to the humour of a work designated " fanny " ; 
but still, though we admit the fact, yet it is necessary to mention the 
circumstances, as connected with the title of the present chapter; 
for those who carried on the slave trade were Buccaneers of human 
flesh, and, in all probability, it is from this traffic the marauding 
expeditions of the pirates first arose, for it rendered Sir John Hawkins, 
Sir Francis Drake, and many others, acquainted with the immense 
riches of the Spaniards, and opened that species of plunder which 
subsequently became so prevalent. 

Buccaneering is said to have commenced in the West Indies, as a 
retaliation upon the Spanish governors of the Colonies, who fitted out 
vessels ostensibly to guard the coasts, but in reality to rob all merchant 
vessels found within a certain distance of the land. In fact, many 
ships of every maritime nation trading to those parts were liable to 
capture ; and though the captain or owner might bring an action in 
the Spanish courts for the recovery of the property, yet it almost 
invariably happened that, by the time they obtained a decree, the 
vessel and cargo had been condemned, the prize-money shared, and 
no responsible individual to be found of whom they could demand 
restitution. Under these circumstances alone, it is not, therefore, to be 
wondered at that both merchants and seamen entered with eagerness 
upon a system of retaliation that promised a valuable return. Besides, 
the attempt at invasion, through the means of the Armada, were 
neither forgotten nor forgiven. 

But it was not alone the English that engaged in these brave, but 
desperate exploits ; in fact, the French appear to have taken the lead ; 
and they fortified the island of Tortuga, a narrow piece of rocky and 
mountainous land near the north-west extremity of St. Domingo. 
Here, after many vicissitudes, they established themselves as cattle- 
hunters (from whence the name Bucanier — Beau in carne), planters, 
and pirates. Pierre le Grande appears to have been the first who 
carried his piratical exploits into operation upon a large scale. The 
only craft they had available for this purpose was a kind of canoes 
capable of carrying from twenty to thirty men each ; and embarking 
in these, they stole along the shores of Hispaniola or Cuba, collecting 
spoil both on land and on water ; rifling villages or robbing vessels, 
as best suited their designs ; nor could the Spaniards, with all their 
vigilance in watching for them, or the extreme severity practised 
upon those who were unfortunate enough to fall into their hands, 
either counteract or suppress the bands that constant!" harassed 
them. 

Whoever has been cruising in the West Indies, must remember 
Cape Tiburon, the point of land on St. Domingo nearest to Jamaica. 
Well, it was off this noted place lay Pierre le Grande, in a canoe, with 
twenty-eight men. He had without a scruple attempted vessels of all 
nations, but either met with a repulse, or found nothing worth carrying 
off. His provisions and water were rapidly decreasing ; Jbut vexed 



24S THE OLD SAILOB S 

with their want of success, Pierre resolutely determined to continue at 
sea, judging rightly, that exigency would urge his men to desperation, 
and render them regardless of life in any encounter that might offer. 
There they lay for three days, waiting for a prize, but none presented 
itself. On the fourth morning both water and provisions were gone, 
and they sat looking at each other, like half-famished wolves. The 
sun rose high in the heavens, and thirst began to attack them, when a 
fleet hove in sight, which they soon discovered to be the Spanish fiota, 
with one of the ships carrying the flag of the Vice-Admiral at a 
considerable distance from the rest. She was a large and noble- 
looking vessel, very lofty looking sides, and a poop rising like the 
turrets of a castle, high in the air. 

Pierre glanced at his companions, and saw, well pleased, that their 
ferocious ravenings caused them to gaze with earnest and savage 
longing towards the Spaniard, who was proudly pursuing his way j 
but as yet he said nothing to direct the working of their minds. 

" We are starving ! " at length exclaimed one of the men, " and it is 
hard to perish while there is plenty in view ; " and looked at the 
ship. 

" Vous avez raison, mon ami," returned Pierre ; " but what would 
you do ? If you surrender, the Spaniards would have no mercy ; the 
priest, a short prayer, and the hangman's noose would be but poor fare 
for a hungry stomach, though it would stop all future cravings." 

"I was not thinking of surrender, Monsieur Pierre," surlily replied 
the man ; "No, no, I had other thoughts; and if we were all of one 
mind " 

" What — what ? " eagerly inquired several, as the other stopped 
short ; " only tell us how to obtain food, and you shall not find us 
fail you." 

" You would fight, then," said Pierre, carelessly. M Look at her, 
like an impregnable fortress arising from the bosom of the waters; 
what could a handful of half-starved creatures do against so powerful 
an antagonist ? Bah, you dare not think of it ! " 

The men remained sullenly silent for several minntes, with their eyes 
fixed upon the Spanish Vice-Admiral, as she floated gallantly along in 
the light breeze, that scarcely soothed the sails to slumber, but proudly 
displayed her ensigns and pennons, gaily flying in the richness of their 
gorgeous hues. 

Pierre watched his associates narrowly, and was soon convinced that 
desperation was doing its work, so as to excite them to reckless 
daring. 

" Have we no food left ? " inquired he, for the purpose of stimulating 
their thoughts, already contemplating the alternative, " to conquer, or 
perish." 

" Not a mouthful," returned the man who had spoken first ; " nor 
is there any water, and my throat is parched." 

" Water we may get, by running iu-shore," rejoined Pierre ; " but 
victuals we cannot obtain till we reach home, and you are all exhausted, 
whilst the wind is dead against us. Aye, now, my lads, they are 






TOr/LY BOAT. 247 

enjoying themselves in that tall ship ; there is the ruddy wine — the 
bread, the beef, and every luxury in plenty ; it is hard to be near 
Paradise, and yet not taste its sweets ! Oh, how delicious to our 
famishing souls would be the well-dressed boille, the nourishing soup, 
the omelet ; and these in plenty ! Then to wash the whole down with 
rich and racy wine ! Mon Dieu ! the very thought would inspire an 
epicure, much more such pauvre miserables as ourselves. Eh bien ! " 
added he, as he shrugged his shoulders, " these things are not for us, 
and she will sail on, and leave us, for who would venture to attack her, 
although life is the stake in either case ? " 

The men again looked at each other ; and Pierre, who took the 
helm, was altering the course, so as to widen their distance, when the 
man, who had first spoken, exclaimed, "Monsieur Capitaine, if we are to 
die, it is better to do so sword in hand, than to linger, a few hours in 
agony. What, think you, is her force ? " 

" Her force ? " repeated Pierre, carelessly ; " of what avail is asking 
the nature or quality of her force ; you can see for yourself what she 
is." He turned his eyes in the direction of the Spaniard, and then 
uttered, in a tone of distress, " Ma foi ! but I can smell the delicious 
viands here, and it makes my stomach more urgent in its cravings ; 
cannot you catch the savoury fragrance, Jacques? The feast must 
needs be plentiful, that diffuses so strong an odour." 

" Will you lead us, mon Capitaine?" demanded Jacques, whose raven- 
ing desire for food was increased by the artful allusions of his superior. 

" Lead you, my son ? " reiterated Pierre, inquiringly. " Alas ! 
whither should I lead you ? " 

"To the Spaniard — to the Spaniard!" simultaneously responded 
the men ; " we have but one life, and can forfeit it but once." 

" To the Spanish ship, my children ? " responded Pierre, somewhat 
deridingly. " Alas ! what could you do against a force so vastly your 
superior ? Nay, nay ; we must not dine there to-day, abundant as the 
repast may be." 

" We are desperate men, Capitaine, and therefore not to be trifled 
with," returned Jacques. "Men! No, we are not men, but hungry 
tigers. Will you lead us " 

" To your supper or your grave, you would say," responded Pierre, 
"with solemnity. " Confer among yourselves ; ten minutes will suffice ; 
and let me know your resolves. Nay, be not over hasty ; " for some 
of them were instantly expressing their determination to attack the ship; 
" give it due deliberation ; take the time I have named." 

The men consulted together, narrowly scrutinized by Pierre, who 
now edged a little towards the Spaniard, so as to keep on nearly a 
parallel course. At the expiration of the allotted period, Jacques 
again became the spokesman. " We are ready, Monsieur Capitaine, to 
follow you to death or conquest. We will swear to stand by you to the 
last man." 

" Bah, what is an oath ? " replied Pierre ; " the mere idle vapouring 
of the breath. I must have more than words, that the wind carries 
away ; I mast have certainty that none will flinch." 



248 THE OLD SAILOR S 

i " Name your own conditions, Monsieur !" exclaimed Jacques ; "and 
whatever they may be, we will abide by them to the death." 

" Well, well; we shall see, we shall see," quietly returned Pierre ; 
" now hoist your sail and ply your paddles, whilst we reconnoitre." 

The men promptly obeyed the commands of their chief (who had 
artfully worked upon their condition to suit his purpose), and the canoe 
glided gracefully along upon the surface of the waters, like a sea-snake 
in search of prey. 

It was a noble ship, that Vice-Admiral of the flota, and proudly did 
her Commander pace his quarter-deck, as she majestically parted the 
liquid element, and moved with grandeur on her ocean path. She 
carried thirty-six guns, and a crew of two hundred men well versed in 
arms, and rich was her freight of gold and silver, and precious stones, 
from Peru and Mexico, and the Spanish main. The haughty Captain, 
arrayed in velvet ao.d satin, with a huge hat, from which hung, 
drooping, a white ostrich feather, was a remarkably handsome man, 
and his face (what could be seen of it for his whiskers and moustache) 
glowed with a conciousness of superiority, as he cast his eye to the flag- 
that marked his rank, and then glanced at the seamen, whom he 
considered its best defence. At that moment he was a whole armada 
in himself, and vanity whispered that he was fully equal to the task of 
extinguishing the light of all the navies in the world. He scarcely 
deigned to notice his subordinates, some of whom had been inspecting 
the insiduous enemy that was creeping in-shore, yet dared not disturb 
the self-complacency of their chief, by informing him of so contemptible 
a circumstance. 

The siesta was over ; the day was drawing towards its close ; the rest 
of the fleet was far distant, the canoe within a short league, apparently 
pursuing her harmless way, in the same direction as her gigantic neigh- 
bour. Signor Don Jose Balthazzar Joachim Henriquez Furtardo 
again paced his quarter-deck ; and now his second in command 
ventured to call his attention to the comparatively diminutive vessel 
that was keeping them company. Signor Don Jose Balthazzar Joachim 
Henriquez Furtardo glanced at the canoe, and then gave an enquiring 
look to his officer. 

" It is a pirate, a bloody pirate, Signor ! " answered his second, to 
the silent appeal ; but Don Jose made no verbal response ; he tossed 
his head in stern contempt, and then waved his hand over his stately 
vessel, as much as to say, *' Come what may, we are invincible." 

"Shall we set a guard, Signor?" demanded the second in command; 
" they are cruel cut-throat fellows ; by Saint Antonio, but I know 
them well." 

" It is needless, quite needless," responded Don Jose Balthazzar 
Joachim Henriquez Furtardo ; " they will not dare to venture near a 
Vice-Admiral, and they must have seen my flag. No, no, it is needless 
to set an extra guard ; " and he walked into his cabin, where, with hia 
passengers, he sat down to cards. 

The officers strolled about the quarter-deck for a few minutes, 
and then they followed their chief's example ; the men, destitute of 






JOLLY BOAT. 249 

controlling influence, went below to carouse, and there was no one left, 
but the two men at the helm, an ancient quartier, and two or three seamen 
who lingered to enjoy the radiant beauty of the setting sun. Loud 
was the roar of merriment in the between decks ; eager were the 
players in the cabin, as they quaffed their wine from goblets of pure 
gold, and swore strange oaths, qualified by the name of a favourite 
saint ; and the ship held on her way as if the whole world of water were 
her own, and she had nothing to apprehend or strive against for mastery. 

The shades of evening deepened on the sky, and fell heavier and 
heavier upon the ocean ; the gorgeous tints faded away in the west, 
and the beautiful vermilion hue gradually disappeared, till the grey 
mantle of eve thickened into the darkness of night, and nought was 
visible but the black land rising into the airy atmosphere, and showing 
its rugged traces against the face of the clear heavens. 

" Lower your sail, and strike your mast," uttered Pierre, in an un- 
der- tone, to the crew of the canoe. " Do it noiselessly, for the time is 
come when I must claim the redemption ot your pledge." 

'* We are ready, Monsieur Capitaine," responded the determined 
Jacques ; " have we not sworn to follow you?" 

" True, true," replied the Captain, '* you have both promised and 
sworn ; nor, as far as you are concerned, do I doubt you, Jacques. But 
hand me the iron crow. Aye, that is it. And," he spoke distinctly 
and resolutely, *' now hear me, men. I will myself be the first man on 
board the Spaniard ; and that no promises may be broken, no perjury 
committed, before I quit the canoe, this crow shall pass through her 
bottom, so that it shall be either a full belly or a wet jacket. Now, 
paddle without noise, and put out your whole strength; they are 
preparing supper for us, and I need but wish you all a good appetite." 

Quickly were the paddles plied, and the light canoe flew like a thing 
of magic over the waters. Kesolutely sat Pierre at the helm, one hand 
grasping the oar that guided them, the other firmly clutching the 
instrument that was to sink the canoe. They neared the ship ; the 
blow was given ; and the bubbling water came rushing in, so that when 
they got alongside it had risen nearly as high as their knees. With a 
cutlass, a pistol each (the only weapons they possessed), they gained 
the deck unperceived, just as their boat went down. There was a 
blaze of light in the great cabin from silver lamps, and thither rushed 
Pierre, with his confederates ; and the haughty Don Jose Balthazzar 
Joachim Henriquez Furtardo, to his great astonishment, beheld a long- 
barrelled pistol within two inches of his breast, and the distinguished 
Vice- Admiral heard the appalling word k4 Surrender!" uttered in a tone 
of voice that plainly indicated the speaker was in no humour to be 
trifled with. The board was filled with luxuries; wine and fruits, 
conserves and cakes, with numerous et ceteras ; but whilst the grim 
boarders, for whom there was no retreat, stood round, presenting their 
terrific pistols, with their swords under their arms, their other hands 
eagerly cleared away every edible they could clutch, and goblets were 
drained and filled again, and the horror-struck Spaniards stared wildly, 
in despair exclaiming, <; Are they men or devils ? " Not the least 
33 



250 HIE OLD SAILORS 

resistance was offered, so sudden was the apparition, so great was the 
surprise ; they gave up their swords on the instant, and " Away ! " 
shouted Pierre ; " Jacques, to your especial duty." 

Leaving four men to secure the captain and passengers, the rest 
(whose teeth had been sharpened by the little use they had just had), 
rushed to the gun room and seized the arras, cutting down all who 
opposed them. The word soon flew fore and aft, that five hundred 
men had boarded the ship, and gave no quarter. This was enough ! 
the seamen jumped down into the hold, and sought for concealment 
amongst the cargo. Pierre ordered the hatches to be clapped on ; and 
after a short struggle with the officers, the Vice- Admiral of the Spanish 
flota was their own. There was no paucity of cooks that night ; but 
in the midst of feasting there was no lack of vigilance ; whilst, as if the 
devil had a favourable regard for the interest of his children, the wind 
veered round in their favour, and came down pretty fresh, so as to 
carry them well across the bay before daylight. Off Cape Nicola Mole 
they put the principal portion of the seamen in the boats, and sent 
them ashore ; but they kept Don Jose Balthazzar Joachim Henriquez 
Furtardo and his passengers for ransom. 

Great was the joy of the inhabitants of Tortgua when the prize 
arrived safe in port, and there was carousing and dissipation for several 
days ; but Pierre le Grande had no intention thus to waste his substance : 
with all the men who chose to accompany him, he set sail for France, 
where he retired upon the wealth he had thus so gallantly acquired. 

This bold achievement very naturally set others on the qui vive ; and 
as Jamaica had now become the rendezvous for the English pirates, 
they frequently joined together in their expeditions. Whatever prizes 
they captured were regularly divided into equitable shares, a certain 
portion being always reserved for refitting and victualling the vessels, 
an allowance for the surgeon to supply himself with necessary 
medicines, and gratuities to those who had lost a limb or were wounded 
in the fights. They were sworn to adhere to and stand by each other, 
and no one to conceal any plunder, but the whole to be thrown into 
one common stock. As subordination was absolutely necessary to 
success, they yielded ready obedience when engaged on any enterprize ; 
but on returning to port, they gave themselves up to every kind of 
vice, lewdness, and debauchery, to the great pecuniary benefit of the 
merchants and dealers who resided on shore ; and from such begin- 
nings arose the future prosperity of the West Indies. 

The Spaniards had practised the most diabolical cruelties upon the 
poor Indians when they first took possession of the islands, torturing 
and slaying them without mercy; hunting them with bloodhounds 
brought purposely from Spain; roasting the unfortunate creatures alive 
over slow fires ; nailing them to crucifixes ; in short, there was no 
species of horrible barbarity that was not called into exercise to gratify 
their infernal and demoniac spirits. 

But the wheel was then revolving ; their coveting of gold drew 
down upon them a fearful retribution ; and such was the drainage of 
the precious metals, that when Sir Francis Drake visited Cuba, they 



JOLLY BOAT. 251 

were using pieces of leather for money. But still there was immense 
treasure accumulating on the Spanish main, and it is said that Drake, 
when at the island which bears his name in the South Seas, shared out 
the money taken to his men, by measuring it in a bowl, sixteen bowls 
of gold to a man ; besides 240 tons of plate and jewels, a great deal of 
which they were subsequently compelled to throw overboard. There 
is very probably some exaggeration in this, yet, from what I have 
myself seen in the cities of the province of La Plata and other parts of 
the continent of South America, where plunder and indolence had 
greatly impoverished the people, articles manufactured from the 
precious metals were of common use — even massive wash-hand basins 
of gold and silver beautifully wrought. 

The communities at Jamaica and Tortuga not only subsisted, but 
also became wealthy upon the plunder obtained by the pirates, who 
squandered away their money as if it was of no value ; and when all 
was spent, and they descended into destitution and debt, which 
rendered them obnoxious to the individuals who were benefited 
by the spoil, they were then readily induced to join the first marauding 
excursion that was planned, in order to obtain more cash, and thereby 
regain the place in society which they so ardently coveted, as wild, 
dissolute dare-devils, who cared for nothing. But grown more resolute 
by repeated success, attacking the small towns on the coast did not 
satisfy them, they planned expeditions inland, to large cities which, 
though in some instances they were defended by twenty times their 
number, yet the pirates generally came off victorious. 

The history of these men presents scenes of horrible atrocity and 
the great extent to which human endurance may be carried, through 
privations of the most distressing character ; sometimes destitute of 
food for days together, yet still marching on into villages that had been 
abandoned. Almost starving, hope revived at the sight of dwellings, 
but this was soon destroyed, when they found that every article of 
provision had been carried off, and not a morsel of food could be 
obtained. Still they persevered, till, reaching a spot where plenty 
abounded, they indiscriminately slaughtered bulls, cows, horses, 
donkeys, or whatever came in their way, to satisfy hunger. 

And talking of donkeys, I can with truth assert, that one of the 
sweetest meals I ever made in my life was on a young foal in South 
America. It was in the river Plate, when the Spaniards deserted 
Maldonado, and our men pursued them so eagerly that no rations had 
been provided, the commissaries, honest men, hoping that cattle would 
be abundant and easily procured without the necessity for payment. 
But the Dons had driven them all off; and except a few tail-less rats, 
and these, I believe, smelt the hazard, and would not come out of 
their holes — no eatables could be obtained. In the afternoon some 
Spaniards were seen driving cattle, and a general chase took place. 
I was " a young gentleman" then, and the middies have always been 
famous for their attachment to a full-belly station. So away we 
started, full trot, and a purser and marine officer kept us company, 
but the Spaniards were too quick for us ; they knew the nature of the 



252 tiie ot,d sailor's 

ground and we did not ; and they very soon distanced us. But right 
in their tract we found a young colt with its throat cut ; it was scarcely 
dead when we came to it, but a musket ball through the head very 
soon put an end to its sufferings, if it had any. A few sticks were 
gathered together, for fuel is very scarce there, to which was added 
many superfluous articles of dress, such as frills and tails of shirts, 
waistcoats — in fact, any thing that was combustible — and a fire was 
kindled by some of the party, whilst the rest flayed the animal and cut 
it into steaks which, half roasted, half raw, were promptly consumed. 
To those who have felt what the extreme of hunger is, I need say 
nothing ; and to those who are practically and scientifically unac- 
quainted with its keen tooth and gnawing ravening, all I have to say 
is, that let them suffer what we did before we dined upon the foal, and 
really I would not be even a dead horse in their way. And after all, 
a piece of young donkey eats very much like veal to a poor fellow 
that's starving, and the Cossacks prefer a good tough piece of horse- 
flesh that does not make game of their teeth, to tender English roast 
beef. There is a great deal in circumstances and taste. 






JOLLY iiOAT, 253 



THE POWER OF CONSCIENCE. 



" Conscience, conscience, 
0, 'tis a tender place." 

King Henry VIIL 



The op-en windows of an elegant house in the city of O emitted 

the sounds of a piano, as a female voice with much sweetness warbled 
forth— 

Arise from thy couch, love — 'tis time to be waking ; 
The thrush and the blackbird their nests are forsaking, 
And the dew from the fiow'rs the fresh breeze is shaking. 

Arise love, and wander with me 
O'er scenes in which Nature, her beauty revealing, 
Charms the eye and the soul with the richest of feeling; 
And whilst sweet delights o'er our senses are stealing, 

Up, maiden — our steps shall be free. 

Arise from thy couch, love — the mists are all flying ; 
The dew from the meadows the warm sun is drying ; 
The cottager forth to his labour is hieing; 

Arise, love, to pleasure and me. 
And as over hills and through valleys we're straying, 
Our hearts, fond affection's soft dictates obeying, 
Around us the health-giving breeze will be playing. 

Up, maiden — our steps shall be free. 

The cadences of the voice were dying away, the notes of the instru- 
ment still vibrated on the ear, as a dapper little man, about two-and- 
twenty years of age, features not handsome, but with a mild expres- 
sion ; sharp, quick eyes, evincing the varied changes of gratification, 
penetration, and cunning, suddenly uttered to himself in an under 
tone, 

" Vera good ; dat must be pretty vomans to sing so charmingly and 
play so veil ; Carl, Carl, you are von made man ; " and mounting the 
steps in front of the mansion, the words " knock and ring " met his 
admiring gaze. " An vera goot dat, too ; I sail knock at de bell and 
ring de door, an ask for — no matter for de name ; " and a sonorous 
appeal to both modes of announcement resounded through the building. 
In a few seconds a servant answered the summons. 

" Pardonnez," said the little man, " shall mynheer Vebster be at 
home?" 

" Webster, Sir," responded the footman ; " there is no Mr. Webster 
living here." 

"Vebster — nein — nein — I do not mean Vebster," remarked the 
other ; *' it is de gentilhomme, Mister — Mister — " 

" Mr. Lambert resides in this house, Sir," said the footman ; as if 
desirous of helping his memory. 



254 THE OLD SAILOR S 

" Brave garcon — dat is it, Lambeart ; vot make me tink of Vebster, 
it is droll," exclaimed the little foreigner. " Veil, ma friend, is Mister 
Vebster, (liable, I mean Mr. Lambeart; is he at home? " 

" No, Sir ; he and his lady have not long gone out in the carriage 
for a morning drive," replied the servant. 

" And Miss Lambeart, am I so fortunate, ma friend," inquired the 
visitor ; " is Miss Lambeart within ? " 

"She is in the drawing-room, Sir," answered the bowing footman ; 
" what name shall I — " 

" Oh, tish no conseqvence for de name," said the little personage, 
entering the door, and waving his hand for the servant to precede him : 
who, however, did not stir. " Veil, den, announcez to Miss Lambeart 
dat Monsieur Carl Von vould be too much proud for kiss her hand." 

" Monsieur Carl Von I think you said, Sir," repeated the 

footman. 

" Yaw, yaw ; oui, oui, dat sail be it," returned the foreigner ; and 
the servant, opening the door of a side room, ushered the stranger into 
it ; but to his surprise on announcing his name to the young lady, he 
found that Monsieur Carl had closely followed him, and was even then 
at his elbow. The lady arose from the piano, and curtsied; the 
foreigner gave one of his best bows as he smilingly advanced. 

" I sail ask de pardon of you, Miss," said he, " but de grand pashiong 
I have for de music must plead my excuse. I am de professeur, and 
de harmony of your voice vos attract me. ' You have no one for 
present you, Carl,' said I to myself, ' so you must make de introduce 
for yourself.' Madame, I am delighted." 

This was delivered in a tone and manner peculiar to the little man ; 
there was ease, drollery, and an approach to elegance. The youug 
lady, an enthusiast in the concord of sweet sounds, though somewhat 
surprised at Monsieur Carl's intrusion, yet made allowance for the feel- 
ings of a foreigner, unacquainted, probably, with English etiquette ; 
and as he walked up to the instrument, and instantaneously struck off 
some brilliant passages, she became aware that he was a perfect 
master. A few complimentary words passed between them ; he sat 
down to play ; and the delicacy of his fingering, the rapidity of his 
execution, and the strong feeling he occasionally threw in, operated 
very powerfully in his favour ; so that Miss Lambert, no mean pro- 
ficient herself, was highly gratified, and when Carl took his leave, be 
received a pressing invitation to call again and be introduced to the 
master and mistress of the house, which he did not fail to do, and was 
so well received that he obtained admittance into the best society 
O could afford. 

But who was Carl Von ? He was the son of a travelling 

Jew, who carried his " boxsh" of jewellery from town to town, selling 
" parginsh " to the Christians. The father played on the piano 
extremely well himself, and had composed several little German songs 
in his own country ; but hoping to do more " bishness " with the 
English, amongst whom he had lived for years, he came over, and 
with him he brought Carl, whose natural talent very soon developed 



JOLLY BOAT. 255 

itself. It was by the means above described that the young man, 
now starting forth in the world on his own account, gamed access to 
persons of the first respectability ; for wherever he heard the notes of 
a piano, he promptly put his ruse into execution ; and though he 
frequently met with repulses, yet they did not deter him from con- 
tinuing his scheme, and he ultimately became the great favourite of 
a numerous class of young ladffes who had attained the middle of their 
teens. 

Amongst others with whom Carl became acquainted, was a young 
student at the University, who was educating for mother Church, 
and paying his addresses to the daughter of a clergyman at one and 
the same time. The lady was possessed of a handsome property, 
besides expectations from her father, and the match was considered 
eligible on both sides. 

M Ah, my tear friend, you are von happy mans," said Carl one day 
to this young student. " You too mosh love de lady for you ; and I 
am told she is pretty — vera pretty." 

"You shall see her," returned the student gaily. " I will intro- 
duce you ; but mark me," and he laughed, " none of your attractive 
smoothness to win her regard ; let's have all in rectitude." 

" Saar, Saar, de honor of Carl Von never yet vas doubted," 

uttered his companion, laying his hand above his heart, and bending 
down his head. " I vill not see de lady." 

" Oh nonsense, man, I was only in joke," said the student, laughing. 

" I have too much confidence in Miss to suppose she would for 

one moment act discreditably. Come, come, we will go at once." 

And go they did ; the foreigner displayed all his allurements to 
the best advantage, and subsequently making repeated visits unac- 
companied by his friend, till in the course of a few weeks the lady 
forgot her promise to her lover, and transferred her affections to the 
young German When the student discovered this, he was at first 
highly incensed, but his indignant feelings aroused his better judg- 
ment, and except a castigation to the male offender, he treated the 
matter with contempt. 

The wedding day was fixed, and all went on blithely between the 
parties, when one morning Carl received a summons to wait upon his 
papa, who had just arrived at the Hotel. 

In compliance with the promptings of filial respect, he immediately 
repaired to the place of appointment, and beheld his venerable parent, 
very shabbily dressed, sitting at a table with his '■* boxsh " before him, 
and apparently labouring under deep mental distress. 

" Carl! Carl!" exclaimed the old man, in mingled tones or grief and 
bitterness, " oh Carl, you have broke my heart. Go, go," he 
commanded, as he waved his hand for his son to depart; "go, Carl 

" Vot is it, farder ?" inquired the young man with commiseration. 
*' Yot is the matter ? You have send for me, and I come directly. 
Vot have I done ?" 

'* Vot you have done, you ask," returned the parent, manifesting 



256 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

intense grief. " Vot you have done ? Oh, Carl, you vill break de 
old man's heart !" 

" I do not know vat you mean, farder," urged the son ; " I have 
alvays been dutiful sons to you." 

"Dutiful sons, Carl! Are you not going to turn Christian? Are 
you not going to marry Christian's la Jy ?" asked the venerable man. 
** Carl, Carl, vot vill become of you ? You forsake de faith of your 
farders ; you abandon your brethren ; you throw avay all hopes of 
future bliss ; you " 

"But, my dear farder,'* urged the young man imploringly, "de 
lady has de monies — there is a good fortune." 

" And vot is de monies ; vot is de fortune, Carl, if you lose your 
precious soul ? " feelingly remonstrated the parent. *' I am old Jew ; 
you are my son, and you are young Jew. It must not be, Carl ; I vill 
go to de lady of de farder — I mean de farder of de lady — and tell him 

Carl is von Jew ; he must not abandon his peoples ; he must 

not marry Christian's voman;" and he arose from his seat to depart. 

" Farder, farder, vot vill you do ? You vill ruin me ; you vill 
indeed," exclaimed the young man, seizing his parent's arm and 
forcibly detaining him. '* Vot does it matter vether Jew or Christian, 
so as dere is de monies ? " 

** I must go, Carl ; I must ; my conscience vill not let me shtay," 
said the old man, struggling to get free. " Think of de ancient leaders 
of your peoples. Oh, blessed Abrahams, dat my son should so disgrace 
me ! Yes, Carl, I must go ; my conscience urges me to do so. I must 
see de farder of de lady ; I vill tell him you are my son, and dat 
you are Jew ; and I vill shtop de marriage." He turned sharp round, 
gazed earnestly in the young man's face, as he added, " Yes, Carl, I 
must shtop de vedding ; unless" — and he paused for a moment— 

" UNLESS TOU SHETTLE FORTY POUNDS A-YEAR UPuN ME FOIL 



LIFE 



»» 



The young man's eyes brightened up ; a smile played upon his 
countenance ; his hold relaxed as he answered, " Vy, farder, did you 
tink I could forget you ? No, no ; I vill make it fifty pounds a-year. 
You may rely upon me, so take your boxsh and go back to London ; 
it shall be done, as soon as I am married." 

" You have always been dutiful son, Carl," responded the parent, 
" alvays, alvays ; but de bishness is de bishness, and should be done at 
vonce. So send for your lawyer directly ; and as it ish besht to be 
correct, I vill send for mine, and let de document be drawn up vidout 
delay." 

'* Vot ! cannot you trust me, farder ? " said the son imploringly. 
" It vill not do to draw up de deed now ; it vill make de matter 
known." 

11 Yes, Carl, I can trust you ; but de bishness ish de bishness all de 
vorld over," replied the parent ; and observing his offspring hesitate, 
he observed, '* Veil, veil, I must see de lady's farder j my conscience 
vill not—" 

What more he would have said was cut short by Carl promptly 



JOLLY EOAT. 257 

agreeing to the demand. The lawyers were sent for, and whilst the 
messenger was gone, the dutiful son observed, 

" Den ven you get de deed, farder, you vill go back to London 
again ; is it not so ? " ' 

" Carl, Carl," remonstrated the other, " vould you send your old 
farder ayay at a time like dis, ven every ting vill be so happy ? No, 
Carl, you vill not do dat ; but it ish not proper for me to appear in 
dese old cloesh ; you must send for de tailor, and order de new vons. 
You vould not introduce your farder to your vife, and de gentlemen 
of de family, in shabby cloesh, vould you ?" 

The young man, seeing how useless either remonstrances or resist- 
ance would be, shrugged his shoulders and complied at once, hoping 
that enroachments were at an end ; but he was mistaken. 

" And now, Carl," said the parent " you know I am very poor mans; 
and you vould like your farder to live genteely for your own sake ; so 
I must have von hundred pounds for my expenses ; and — " 

" Oh farder, dat is too mosh," urged the son, with an angry shake of 
the head ; " I cannot do dat." 

" Tink of de faith of your farders, Carl," exclaimed the parent. " I 
am Jew, you are Jew. I must vait upon de lady at vonce, my 
conscience — " 

Carl again stopped him by yielding to the request ; the lawyers and 
tailor performed their parts; the old man got the money, was 
introduced, and a few days afterwards the young couple were 
married. "~ - 






S3 



258 * HE 0LD SMLon s 



GREENWICH HOSPITAL. 



*' Dick Dock, a tar in Greenwich moored." 

Dibdin. 



" What ! got to Greenwich Hospital again," methinks I hear some 
one exclaiming; "we shall never get this old fellow away from the 
place." 

No, my friend ; not if I can help it, and I only wish her Majesty 
would appoint me one of the Commissioners, with a good salary ; you 
should see how famously I would carry on upon all tacks, to the honour 
and glory of Old England. 

I love to get amongst the veterans, and it was only a few days ago, 
that I chanced to fall into company with several, who, previous to my 
entering, had been spinning their yarns and blowing their clouds in 
admirable style. One of them had just finished an account of a duel 
that took place between two midshipmen ; and old Bill Braceback, 
a veteran quarter- master, had caught up the thread, and commenced 
taking his turn at the winch. 

" Your story Tom puts me in mind of another midshipman's duel," 
said the quarter-master, " and it arose out of somut of the same kind 
of skylarking and nonsense amongst the young genlemen as yours 
did, only they were all oldsters, as were engaged in it. One was a 
dashing young chap of a master's mate named Howe ; a brave gallant 
fellow agin the enemy, and up to all sorts of devil-trap among his 
messmates and friends ; the other was named Mealey, a reefer, very' 
rich and very silly ; what they put him into the navy for, would puzzle 
any man's brain, for though as Captain P. told the Lord High Admiral, 
when he axed him how his father came to place him aboard a man-of- 
war, that " in all large families there generally was one fool, and him 
they sent to sea," yet in Mr. Mealey's case he was an only child. 
Mayhap, however, they wanted to be rid of him and get hold of his 
money, which he spent very scantily on all tacks, as I have good cause 
to remember, for he wasn't a free natured young man, and yet very 
conceited that every body should think well of him. Now, Mr. Howe 
had but little more than his pay, and the chance of prize-money, to 
live upon, but as the frigate — for it was a smart eight-and-thirty— was 
very lucky, he shared well ; and though he had a widowed mother and 
a pretty little sister to help to maintain, yet he kept up appearances as 
smart as his messmates, and always behaved handsome in every thing 
he did. Not as any of the rest of the midshipmen were wanting in' 
generosity or fair conduct, for with one or two exceptions, a finer set 
of young fellows never took a snooze in their watch upon deck under 



JOLLY BOAT. 259 

the lea of a P. jacket and a hairy cap. The captain who commanded 
us, one of England's bravest sons, was quite proud of'm — shall I 
go on ? " 

"To be sure, to be sure, Bill! keep the winch a going," said an old 
boatswain's mate, which was assented to by the rest. 

" Oh, with all my heart," exclaimed the other, adjusting himself 
in his chair, and looking up to a corner of the ceiling, as he had been 
accustomed to watch the weather leech of the sails when at the con, 
"with all my heart, and I never thinks of it when it hauls across my 
mind, but couples it with the name of , 

:, THE WAGER BY BATTLE. 

"Well, d'ye see we were cruising off the Spanish coast, and we chased 
a whacking French privateer into a beautiful bay, that looked so en- 
ticing that it made a fellow's toes tingle to have a run ashore, 
especially as^in standing in, a large white fort, surrounded by green 
trees and orange groves, opened afire upon us with twelve pounders, 
as hulled us almost every sho& ' Sfeili the skipper wouldn't go about, 
for there was a fine breeze, and the water smooth, so that he could 
handle the frigate as easy as if she'd been a small cutter, and he was 
determined to have Johnny Crapoh, who had run his nose on the 
beach near a battery of three guns, and presented his broadside of ten 
long brass iiines right at us. Ifow, all the boats were lowered down 
in case of its coming calm, and being wanted to tow ; so the captain 
orders them to he manned without a ?moment's delay, with fifty seamen 
and mariners well armed, under the first lieutenant, the officer of 
marines, Mr. Howe, Mr. Mealey, and another middy or two; and 
being the coxswain of the pinnace, incourse I was in at it, and orders 
were given to push for a point of land^ thatcwas so close on our 
larboard bow that you might pitch a biscuiLupon it, and having got on 
firm ground, the s party was to take the town, and threaten to set it a 
fire if they didn't surrender. The frigate was fast shooting a-head, so 
that by the time we shoved off, the point was nearly on the larboard 
quarter, and, under the smoke of our own guns, thelgnemy never got 
sight of us as the boats pulled ashore, so that we all Iatided as snug as 
possible, and they never none the wiser. So the blue jackets musters 
together, with a musket, a brace of pistols, a cutlash, a bagonet, and a 
cartridge box, for every man's fighting allowance; and the marines 
with their usual coutrements formed rank and file, and away we went, 
double quick time, till we turned an angle of the rock, and I'm 
blessed if we warnt close aboard of the fort, and ' Avast heaving !' 
sings out the first lieutenant, and ' Halt !' says the officer of the jollies, 
and we every soul on us brought up all standing. 

" 'There's never not a Spaniard to be seen/ says the first leftenant; 
and just at that moment a Spanish sodger pops upon us round the 
corner, and ' Santa Maria,' says he, as drops upon his knees, and 
* Sanctum Smearum,' says the first lieutenant, ' Come-be-hang, the 
troops at the fort, and tell me, kick-shoes, the best way into it.' 

" * Si signor, si,' — says the Spaniard. 



200 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

" * Be hang, I do see !' says tlie leftenant, ' 1 see plain enough, and 
be bio wed to you.' 

" ' Not quite plain, sir,' says Mr. Howe, ' for my eyes tell me there's 
the gate wide open for us, and the drawbridge down ; its only a dash, 
and in five minutes they shall see the British buntin on the flag-staff.' 

" So the leftenant looks, and « You're right, Howe,' says he, ' I wo'nt 
forget it. Now lads, we must make a run for it, the distance is not 
more than a quarter of a mile ; a few minutes and the space will be 
passed ; marines, tail on as hard as you can pelt ; follow the leader, 
and the devil take the hindmost.' 

" Off he started like a deer, and we after him, as if in chace, bringing 
the terrified prisoner along with us, and I'm blessed if we didn't all 
hands cross the drawbridge, and get under the gateway before the 
people in the fort knew anything about it, for they were pretty well 
most of 'em on the rampart towards the sea face ; but, an alarm being 
given, about a hundred Spaniards came pouring down upon us, and 
we scattered 'em back like sand afore the wind. Still they tried it on 
two or three times, till a great many on 'em had lost the number of 
their mess, and then we made a desperate rush, boarded the ramparts, 
and carried all before us, whilst Mr. Howe puckalows the jack, and 
runs with it to the flag-staff, where I lent him a hand to dowse the 
Spanish colours, and run up the British union in its stead. This 
war'nt done, however, without getting some ugly knocks in doing it. 
Mr. Howe got a crack o' the head, that turned his hair into red ropes, 
and I got the cut of a sabre on my forehead as shows the scar to this 
very day. Howsomever, there was the flag of England's pride flapping 
in the breeze, and the moment the frigate caught sight of it, she ceased 
firing ; a few minutes afterwards, and the fort was entirely our own, 
without a single man on our side killed, though the enemy was more 
than four times our number. But there was a terrible slaughter among 
the Spaniards, who laid about, dead and dying, and more than a hun- 
dred had scrambled over the walls and thrown themselves down a height 
of sixteen or eighteen feet, by which numbers were killed, or laid with 
broken limbs in the ditch, that had only three or four inches of water 
in it. 

" The first thing we did was to turn the guns on the battery, and the 
French privateer* whose people, seeing how affairs stood, slung them- 
selves from the jib-boon end to the shore, running the hazard of being 
shot for the chance escape. At last they hauled down the colours, and 
the firing ceased on all sides. Mr. Howe and a small party was sent 
into the town with a flag of truce, to assure the inhabitants that no harm 
should be done to then, or their private property, if they remained quiet. 
He had got his head bound up, and having lost his own hat, he hoists 
one that he took from a Spanish officer, as would have sarved for a 
cradle for the Irish giant. Mr. Mealy went with him to look after the 
men, whilst Mr. Howe advanced with the flag of truce. What took 
place there I can't tell you, for I pushed off in the pinnace for the 
frigate, and then went to take possession of the privateer, which we 
soon got afloat, and brought out to an anchorage. She was a fine ship, 



JOLLY BOAT, 2G1 

mounting twenty-four guns, and there were also several marehant-men 
in the roads as fell to our lot. Communications were opened with the 
town, and the inhabitants never denied us nothing ; sometimes the 
boats' crews would come off with huge grenadiers' caps on, women's 
bonnets, and frilled head-dresses ; in short, we all made fools of our- 
selves, more or less, for the Spaniards were so pleased with the for- 
bearance as was shown them, that we never wanted for nothing in the 
wittling way, and as long as we behaved ourselves properly, the skipper 
didn't interfere. 

" As soon as we got some wegetables and fresh beef aboard, we gets 
tinder weigh again with our prizes for home, and on our arrival, as 
the frigate had received some damage in her hull, she was ordered to 
Woolwich to refit, and Mr. Howe went up to Somerset House to pass 
his examination for a leftenancy, and the captain allowed him to 
have the pinnace to go by water. Well, he gained great credit, 
received his certificate; and as he had been spoken highly of, his expec- 
tations were raised that he should soon have a commission. 

" ' I'll give all the reefers a glorious tuck-out to-morrow,' says he to 
Mr. Loringe, another midshipman who was -in the boat, as we were 
pulling down the river. 'I know the first leftenant will give you 
leave, and I shall invite the ward-room officers — grand dinner at six, 
my boy; maderia and champaigne; large room at the Ship Tavern; 
every thing in first style.' 

" ' You had better ax the captain and admiral along with the rest,' 
says Mr. Loringe, with a half sneer. 

" * And mayhap, I may do that too,' answers Mr. Howe ; ' the enter- 
tainment shall be no disgrace to me, and you shall be there, if it's only 
to excite your envy !' 

" * Very like a whale/ says Loringe, ' how will you raise the wind ? 
you'd better get stingy Mealey to pay the bill.' 

" ' And so his money shall,' says Howe, ' every farthing of it ; I'll 
bet you a dozen of port I make him pay.' 

" 'Done,' says Loringe, who believed the thing impossible; ' why you 
may just as well expect me to furnish a part of the table.' 

" 4 I shouldn't be quite so positive as to the latter,' says Mr. Howe, 
1 but I durst venture another wager even upon that ; add a dozen of 
sherry to the port, and I'll take it.' 

" ' Done again !' shouted Loringe in an instant, * and the coxen 
here shall be witness between us.' 

" ' All square, gentlemen,' says I ; 'just shake flippers upon it, as a 
token that you meant to stand by your bargain,' says I. 

*' So they shook hands, and the wagers were chalked down with a 
pencil on the bJank leaf of a pocket-book, and given to me to take care 
of, after both had clapped their names to it. 

" ' You'll lose, Howe, to a certainty,' says Mr. Loringe, * Very few 
ever got much out of me, but nobody breathing ever screwed a sixpence 
out of Mealey.' 

" ' I know you're a couple of skin-flints; but never mind that,' 
says the other. ' Mealey would rather come down with any sum in 



252 THE OLD SAILOR 3 

his power, than have it said his conduct in the Spanish town the other 
day was anything but officer-like and courageous ; he wouldn't like to 
be proclaimed a rank coward.' 

M ■ I'll be hanged if I didn't think as much,' cries Loringe ; * and 
yet he has been spoken so well of. whilst I never had any name men- 
tioned at all ; what was it, Howe ?' 

" ' Oh, never you mind that,' answers the master's mate ; ' the wagers are 
laid, leave the rest tome; only remember what I have said is in confidence.' 

44 ' Oh, very confidential to be sure !' says Loringe, * and the coxsen 
and boat's crew hearing of you.' 

" 'There's not a man among us as 'ud split to make mischief, Mr. 
Loringe,' says I; ' especially if Mr. Howe wished a stopper to be 
clapped upon our muzzles*' 

444 Still to talk of such a communication being/ confidential is, all 
nonsense,' says the midshipman with a grin. 

44 4 You may do as you please, Loringe,' says the master's mate, 4 1 
don't care a marine's button ; but I'll win my wager yet.'- 

44 And so they -got to taunting and wrangling with each other till we 
pulled alongside. Being desirous, however, to/see how matter would 
go on, I made excuses to linger about the decks. The leftenants, as 
well as his own messmates, congratulated Mr. Howe on his success ; 
and they gathered round-him like bees, to see his certificate. Presently 
I twigs Mr. Loringe beckoning to Mealey, and they went forward along 
the gangway by themselves, andsgot into earnest conversation, which 
they held on by for some time, whilst Mr. Howe went below, and 
thinking the play would be acted out in their berth, I contrives to follow 
the master's mate. In a few minutes down comes Mealey, and having 
hauled his writing desk out of his chest, lights a purser's dip in a 
quart bottle, and pens a letter, which, after some confab with two or 
three others (in which one, the midshipman named Clayton, repeatedly 
urged, 'You must demand satisfaction, or be branded as a coward') 
was put into the hands of Clayton, and conveyed to Mr. Howe. It 
was a challenge from Mealey, demanding a denial of his words, or to 
meet him next morning on the? Common with pistols. Mr. Howe re- 
fused to explain, but accepted the challenge, and, as the work of the 
day was over, they all got leave from the first leftenant to go ashore 
f jr the night ; Clayton and Mealey and Loringe keeping company by 
themselves, and Howe, Mr. Splinter, the surgeon's mate, and Mr. 
Bradley, a midshipman, taking up their berths away from them. 

44 Now d'ye mind, I'd got the cue from Mr. Howe, and so I axes for 
leave too, as he wanted me to produce the paper regarding the wager ; 
and knowing where to pitch upon 'em, I takes a jolly good cruise to 
myself, till I falls in with Mr. Clayton, and he axes me to have a glass 
of grog with him. So I goes to the inn, and there was Loringe and 
Mealey ; and the first of 'em says to me, says he — 

44 4 You heard all Mr. Howe spoke about in the pinnance to-day 
coxsen, didn't you ? ' 

44 4 Why, yes, Sir,' said I, taking the grog ; 4 1 could'nt be well off 
of hearing on it ; the whole was plain enough to understand.' 






JOLLY EOAT. 263" 

" • There, I told you so,' says Loringe to Mealey ; * yes, yes ; he'll 
win his wager with the devil to it ; and half an ounce of cold lead in 
his body.' 

" ' I hopes as it will never come to that, gentlemen,' says I ; ' but 
It isn't for the likes of me to interfere in your consarns ; though I'm 
thinking both sides ought to have a goodish stock of cash in case of 
anything fatal, and one on you being obliged to cut and run.' 

" • Oh, we are well supplied,' says Mealey, displaying a handful of 
bank notes ; ' thank God, my fortune's too ample for me to be strait- 
ened in that respect, though I don't choose to pay for other people's 
entertainments.' 

■* ' I don't think as they'll ever tax you with doing that if you can 
help it, Mr. Mealey,' says I ; and so I takes my leave after swallowing 
the stuff. Next morning I goes on to the Common a little before six 
o'clock, and soon afterwards the hostile parties made their appearance 
on the ground ; it was a large open space, but no great distance from 
the road up Shooter's Hill, and a more delightful morning I never be- 
held. It was plain Mr. Mealey didn't want for pluck, but there was 
always a caution about his actions that made him look a-head in re- 
gard of consequences, yet he had gone too far to heave about again, 
and he seemed determined to stand the brunt. As for Howe, he was 
pretty much as he usually was, though mayhap a little more serious ; 
whilst the rest, who looked on, were very grave. The ground was 
duly measured in a few minutes, and the principals, as they called 
'em, regularly placed ; no retraction was made nor no apology offered ; 
the signal was given, and both fired ; Mr. Mealey stood erect, but 
Mr. Howe laid twisting and writhing on the ground. The surgeon's 
mate ran to the spot, tore open his waistcoat, and the blood was 
spreading all over the shirt. 

" * Save me, save me, Doctor,' shrieks the wounded man. * Oh, 
agony- — agony, I am dying ! I am djing!' 

" As for the others, they all seemed thunderstruck, 'specially when 
the Doctor looked at Mealey, and shook his head. 

" * Is there any immediate danger, Doctor ?' axes Mr. Clayton, as his 
face quivered and he trembled with alarm. 

" ' The wound is fatal,' answered the Doctor. *« In a few minutes he 
will cease to breathe, he must not be disturbed in his last moments ; 
and I would advise you to get your friend out of the way as quick as 
possible.' 

" ' It shall be done, it shall be done,' says Clayton ; and making a 
signal with his handkerchief, a post shay drove up from the road. 
* What are we to do ? ' continues Clayton to Mealey ; ■ they have no 
money to remove the body, and it would' be a shame to leave it here ; 
you must pay the expense, and as I must be out of the way too, I 
must request your assistance to enable me to do so.' 

" • Bad counsellors have you all been to me,' says Mealey, bitterly ; 
1 but reflection is useless now. Here, here is what you want, this will 
satisfy you for the present ;' and I seed him count out three ten-pound 
notes, which, having put into Clayton's hands, the young duellist 



264 THE. old sailor's 

sprang into the chaise, and was driven off as fast as the wheels could 
slue round. Whilst this was passing, the Doctor pronounced that the 
wounded man was dead ; and there he laid, his neckerchief off, his 
hands thrown out on either side, and all seemed to shudder as they 
gazed upon it. As for Clayton, he went up to the body, and kneeling 
down, almost convulsed with agitation, took up one of the hands ; he 
then rose up, and joined the group that was consulting what was best 
to be done in such emergency. The shay had disappeared, when 
Clayton, as if in the distress of* his mind, gave a loud whistle ; up 
sprung the dead man ! haugh, haugh, haughing, as loud as he could 
laugh, and, going to the astonished Loringe, he exclaimed, 

" ' I've won my wager ! you are in my debt a dozen of port and a 
dozen of sherry ; for here,' holding up the three ten-pound notes which 
had been given to Clayton, ' here is Mealey's money to pay for the 
dinner to-day ; the duel is all a sham, I am not wounded, it is red ink 
from a bladder ; I told you you would lose.' 

" Every body grinned, and enjoyed the joke, but poor Loringe, who 
looked like a sick monkey. ' No, no,' says he, ' it is a deception — a 
fraud ; you called Mealey a coward.' 

" * I did no such thing,' shouts Howe ; ' what I said was, that he 
wouldn't like to be proclaimed a rank coward, neither would you nor 
I, nor any one like it, but I never said he was a coward ; it was your 
officious love of making mischief that jumped like a tiger to that 
conclusion. Y> r here's the pocket book, coxsen ? ' 

" I hauled cut the pocket book in which they had both signed articles, 
and showed the written agreement. ' There,' says Mr. Howe, ' you 
see I've won the dozen of port; for here is Mealey's money to pay for 
the dinner ; and I have won the dozen of sherry, for the port shall be 
placed on the table at dinner time, so that you will furnish a portion 
of the entertainment.' 

" • But you have made me ridiculous, I shall be laughed at,' says 
Loringe, in a fume. 

" ' There again you're wrong,' answers Howe. 'It is you who have 
rendered yourself ridiculous, and I hope it will operate as a caution 
to you in future ; however, there's my hand if you choose to take it, and 
if you're not satisfied, why, after to-day I am at your service.' 

"Loringe took the offered hand, for he thought it best to make friends, 
and mayhap he might escape a most onmereiful quizzing, as every one 
seemed to be in the secret but himself; even Clayton, whom he sup- 
posed to be staunch to the back-bone in his cause, he found to be an 
active confederate in the plot against him. 

" ' And now, messmates,' says Howe, ' as we have plenty of cash, I 
invite all hands to breakfast with me, and then we'll on board to duty. 
Heave ahead, Coxsen, my hearty, and tell 'em to make a grand spread 
according to Hamilton Moore, at the rate of tea for two and toast for 
six, and a good tuck out of the best for yourself. 

" ' Ay, ay, Sir,' says I ; ' here I go like seven bells half struck, and 
many thanks Sir — you shan't want for grub if I stands purser ; ' so off 
I starts, and gives my orders as grand as an admiral. By the time they 



JOLLY BOAT. 265 

hauled in, every thing was ready ; there was a mountain of rolls as 
would have almost reached the main top, and buckets of tea and coffee, 
and ham and beef and eggs, cold fowls and tongue, delicious cream, 
and fine brandy and real Jamaker. I'm blessed, but it was an out-and- 
out spread, and they all sat down and turned to at it, as if they had 
picked up the appetites of a dozen marines ; and whilst they were 
eating and drinking, I larned from their discourse that they had 
brought Mr. Loriuge to own as he had lost the wagers, and would pay 
them at once. He tried to look as pleasant and merry as the rest ; 
but now and then I twigged that about bis phisog as plainly towld me 
a good deal of it was force-put, and he was far from being comfortable. 

" After breakfast, we all hands went aboard, and got to duty ; all 
but Mr. Clayton, who had further leave granted him for the day ; and 
he goes ashore again, and orders a superb dinner to be got ready at the 
Ship Tavern by six o'clock, for thirty — every thing nice that the season 
afforded, and the best wines ; which having done, he takes a post shay 
and drives away like fury to London, to clap howld of Mr. Mealey, and 
take the heavy strain off his mind, as nobody had been killed. Well, 
that morning about eleven o'clock as soon as the tide was high enough, 
they hauls the frigate into dock, whilst I went to the post office for 
the letters ; and just as I got aboard again, one of the dock-yard clerks 
walks up to the first leftenant as he was standing on the quarter-deck, 
and touching his hat, tells him that he and Mr. Howe were wanted at 
the commissioner's office as the skipper was waiting for 'em there. 

" ' Very well,' says the leftenant, ' I'll be alongside of him directly ; ' 
and then he sings out ' Mr. Howe, Mr. Howe ! messenger, tell Mr. 
Howe I want him, his head is so full of the dinner to-day that — — ' 

" 'Here I am, Sir,' shouted Mr. Howe as he runs up to the first 
leftenant ; * I was down below Sir, getting her trimmed for taking 
the blocks.' 

" ' Oh, ay ! all very well,' says the leftenant ; * but, just give your 
figure-head a fresh scrape and a paint, and bear a hand about it ; the 
captain's waiting for us at the commissioner's office ; we must go in 
uniform, all ship-shape.' 

" ' There's a letter for your honour, Sir,' says I to the leftenant, 
4 only its directed Captaiu. And here's another for you, Mr. Howe, 
with leftenant logged down again your name, and a fine roast-beef 
seal at the back of it.' So I hands 'em both over, and my eyes but 
they looked at each other, and then at the letters, and then at each 
other again, and the first leftenant, without saying a word, let's fly a 
hearty ' Haugh ! haugh ! haugh ! ' claps the letter in his pocket 
unopened, and, with a face like vermilion runs down the companion 
ladder. Mr. Howe was a good deal shook, but he breaks open the 
hatches of his'n, and the flush came over his cheeks as he reads the 
contents, and then turning round he grips howld of me by the hand 
and shakes it with the wigour of a giant, whilst he puts t'other in 
his pocket and lugs out a guinea. ' There Coxson,' says he, as he 
gives it to me, ' its only fair to pay the postman,' and then looking at 
Mr. Bradley, who came up, he sa}*s, 

" * Now do touch your hat to me Bradley, just this once, and 
34 



266 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

I'll never expect it again. The prize has been bought into the service ; 

Mr. is appointed to command her ; and this,' holding up the 

letter, ' directs me to go to the commissioner's office, and take up my* 
commission as leftenant of the same craft. Now, do there's a good 
fellow, touch your hat to me this once.' 

" ' I will, I will,' says Mr. Bradley, as he did so; 'and I give you joy, 
Howe, of your promotion ; though I shall be sorry to part company. 
However, she'll want a mate, and Mr. and I are on very good terms.' 

" ' I'll not lose sight of it, Bradley,' says Mr. Howe ; ' but I must go 
and clap my rigging on ; ' and down he dives, but he was up again in a 
jiffy all a-taunto, and along with the first leftenant they hauls their wiud 
for the office where they each gets his commission, and then proceeds to 
hoist the pennant aboard the prize as laid in the stream, whilst the 
whole of the frigate's company gives 'em three cheers. And a glorious 
dinner they had in the evening — the captain of the frigate and all the 
officers being present ; for they made it a joint consarn, and, instead of 
thirty, there was more than fifty sat down to mess; and the commissioner 
was there, and every soul fore and aft aboard had a double allowance of 
grog ; and, I'm blessed, but we'd a glorious night of it, for, in course, all 
hands were proud of the thing, seeing as they had increased the list of 
the navy in regard of the prize, and made a captain and leftenant all in 
one day. There, brothers, I think my yarn is as good as Tom's any how." 
" ' Ah, good enough in its way, Bob,' said a pensioner; 'but you 
haven't told us what became of Mr. Mealey.' 

"No more I have," answered the quarter master ; " but I will, though. 
D'ye see, Mr. Clayton found him in the mettrytropolis — that's what they 
calls the Weste end of London ; and telling him that Mr. Howe warn't 
dead, he takes a great strain off his heart; for the poor young man, stingy 
as he was, had gone almost distracted at the thought of what had taken 
place, and would have given half he was worth to have recalled it ; but 
Clayton never told him of the wagers and the trick as they'd played, 
and Mealey still believed that Howe was severely wounded, and wanted 
to shake hands and be friends with him. So the shay was ordered, and 
they got to the Ship Tavern just as the officers were bringing their 
starns to anchor for dinner ; and Clayton tells Mealey to follow him, as 
the latter supposed, to the wounded man's bed room; instead of which, he 
pilots him into the grand apartment, where he sees the new made captain 
in his uniform as chairman, and his opponent, the new made leftenant, 
acting as wice ! And, my eyes, but he stared with astonishment when he 
seed the splendid affair, and he would have backed out of it, but as many 
were in the secret, he was cordially welcomed, and Howe rose up, and took 
him by the hand, and placed his chair alongside of his own. After din- 
ner, however, the whole story was told over Mr. Loringe's wine, and 
many a hearty laugh it caused, in which the sufferers joined. Mr. Howe 
did more ; he gave back Mealey his money, and wouldn't let Loringe 
pay for the wine, but stood the racket his-self, half and half with his new 
skipper. But Mealey and Loringe wouldn't be outdone; and so they got 
up a sheavo among the reefers, one finding the grub, and the other the 
drinkables, and Leftenant Howe was invited, and they had another 
jolly day of it. So d'ye mind, that's all about the " Wager by Battle.' 



JOLLY EOAT. 2G7 



CALLING- THE WATCH, 



A NAUTICAL REMINISCENCE. 



In the autumn of 180 — , a long run of easterly winds kept the home- 
ward-bound convoys several weeks slapping about the chops of the 
Channel, and some of the East Indiamen were so much straitened by 
the want of water and provisions, that when a favourable breeze did 
come, they were compelled to put into Plymouth for a supply. A great 
number of the passengers, heartily tired of the long voyage, took the 
opportunity of quitting the ships, and posting it to their several places 
of destination without delay. Amongst others who landed, was an 
officer of the army, with his wife and two children and their attendants, 
who put up at one of the principal hotels, to wait for a communication 
which was to direct him to what part of the country he was to proceed. 
His baggage was received at the hotel, a suit of rooms was fixed upon, 
but the proprietor would not allow them to be occupied unless the 
officer would take them for a month, at the small charge of ten guineas 
per week. In vain the officer remonstrated against this imposition — 
in vain he declared that his stay would only be for a few days, at the 
most ; mine host was inexorable ; and as the baggage was already in 
the house, together with other circumstances, the officer was forced to 
comply On the second day, the expected letters arrived, and called 
for an immediate removal to London ; chaises were promptly ordered, 
the bill brought in, and forty guineas charged for the use of the rooms. 
Indignant at the exorbitant demand, the officer endeavoured to bring 
the landlord to reason ; he offered him ten guineas, though he had 
been there only two days ; but this was rejected, the landlord deter- 
mined to make him adhere to his agreement, and insisted upon the 
whole sum, till warm words ensued, and the noise caused by altercation, 
made several inmates of the hotel acquainted with the occurrence. 

Captain S , who commanded a frigate then fitted out in Ha- 

moaze, happened to have a large party dining with him at the hotel on 
that day, and being informed of the nature of the contention (which 
had somewhat disturbed them), he took an opportunity of quitting the 
room, and, waiting upon the officer, ascertained the whole fact of the 

case. They then went to the proprietor, and Captain S asserting 

that he expected a visit from some of his friends, a transfer of the 
apartments was made to the gallant sailor, who undertook to pay the 
whole of the rent. This was not exactly what the avaricious landlord 
wanted, for he hoped to sack the forty guineas, and still be enabled 
to derive emolument from others. However, in this instance he could 
not well refuse to sanction the exchange of tenants, and therefore he 



268 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

graciously acceded ; the army officer expressed his sincere acknow- 
ledgements to Captain S , and they parted mutually pleased with 

each other. 

After Captain S returned to his party, they appeared to be 

more than usually cheerful ; the wine circulated freely ; the laugh and 
the joke abounded, but there was much of the conversation in an under 
tone, and during the evening several jolly-looking tars were introduced, 
who after a stiff glass of grog each, received some orders from the 
Captain and retired. 

About eleven o'clock the party broke up, and as most of them had 
secured beds at the hotel, they at once went to their several apartments ; 
mine host and his fat spouse, his sons and Ks daughters, his man- 
servants and his maid- servants, and the stranger J that were within his 
gates, were all snugly tucked-in, in their dormitories, and the utmost 
silence prevailed throughout the establishment — broken only by the 
deep bass of many a nasal organ, the whole seeming to rival one another 
in profundity. 

Midnight came ; the witching hour of midnight, when ghosts are 
said to shake off their wooden surtouts, and revisit mortals beneath 
the glimpses of the moon. The great clock in the hall, as if alarmed 
at being alone, began to strike, and as the sonorous echoes reverberated 
through the long vaulted passages, those who were not yet sleeping, 
or were awoke by its spirit-stirring sounds, shook beneath the 
influences of the hour, and drew the bed-clothes tightly over their 
heads, as they counted every fall of the hammer. The last stroke was 
still swelling on the ear — silence had not resumed its perfect sway — 
when suddenly there arose within the building the most piercing notes ; 
it was like the burst of a hundred northerly gales through a thousand 
crannies ; it was louder than a legion of young pigs, all mounting to 
the highest bar of the stye ; it was more shrill than the shrieks of 
myriads of screech-owls, joining in one universal chorus over the slain 
upon the battle-field; and it was succeeded by several hoarse voices from 
stentorian lungs, shouting with all their might. Instantly there was a 
response still louder, and the trampling of many heavy feet upon the stairs. 

Up sprang the landlord, almost paralysed with fright, convinced that 
the house must be on fire, and thrusting his legs through the pocket- 
holes of his wife's petticoat, and bis arms through the legs of his small- 
clothes, he rushed out upon the landing-place, followed by his fat 
better half, enveloped in the counterpane, and her finely be-ribboned 
day-cap, (which, in spite of her hurry, she had found time to exchange 
for her night-dress) hind part before. Open flew the bed-room doors ; 
out popped skulls enveloped in all colours shouting, " Fire ! " and 
"Thieves!" down came the waiters and hand-maidens, half undressed; 
up rushed the cook, in the ostler's boots ; and such an assemblage as 
was congregated there upon that landing (whilst the banisters dis- 
played many a railing head) was never seen before. There was a 
running to and fro in all directions. One cry, one universal cry 
prevailed, and "What's the matter?" was asked and repeated by 
every tongue, except that of the laughing Captain S , who, in his 




Y<nt OL HJ/txb 6WC? Wt^ 



-^--yv/A 



7-&-L.7 ' "■ ■ 'U v/- . 



JOLLY BOAT. 269 

full uniform, looked over from his suite of apartments, and seemed to 
be quietly enjoying the sport. Every one cried to him for explanation ; 
and as they raised their eyes, dolefully beseeching to his merry phiz, 
" What's the matter ? " was again uttered in all the different cadences 
of the vocal powers of humanity. 

*' Oh, don't be alarmed," said the Captain, soothingly, as he shed 
upon them the light of a bewitching smile, " I am sorry you have been 
disturbed ; very sorry indeed ; the idlers are not wanted." 

"For heaven's sake, tell us what's the matter, Captain S !" 

entreated mine host ; " where are the thieves ? " 

" Thieves, Mr ? " responded the Captain, angrily, as he de- 
scended the stairs ; " thieves ! how dare you presume to use such 
epithets in reference to some of the best seamen in his Majesty's 
service. Take care, sir, such insolence deserves severe chastisement, 
and shall have it too, if it is repeated ; " and he drew himself up 
menacingly in front of the proprietor, who, already panic-stricken, 
retreated behind his wife. 

" Do pray, if you can, relieve our minds, Captain S ," implored 

the lady ; and all hands joined in the entreaty. 

" Certainly, madam," responded the bowing Captain, " shall be truly 
happy to do so ; and perhaps as most present are landsmen, it may be 
of service to them to understand the difference, so as not to jump upon 
deck till they hear the hands turned up ; I presume that you allude 
to the piping that has recently been heard ; I assure you it is always 
my custom when I have a command ashore ; it was merely my boat- 
swain's mates calling the starboard watch." He looked up : " Yo hoy 
there ! Jack, Bill, and Tom, where are you ? " Out bolted three stout 
seamen from one of the rooms, who responded to their commander's 
hail with " Aye aye, yer honour." 

"Pipe down, my lads," said the Captain; and bending low and 
courteously to the angry group, he withdrew to his apartment. The 
boatswain's mates put their calls to their lips, and then succeeded another 
shrill chirping whistle, that made many clap their hands to their 
dainty ears, lest hearing the pipes, the drums should also begin to beat. 
As soon as they had done, the seamen disappeared, and, like the burst- 
ing out of a wasp's nest upon an intruder, so was every sting now 
pointed at the landlord ; but he, guessing at the trick which had been 
played upon him, slunk away to his chamber, amidst the threats and 
denunciations of his guests, who, having vented their spleen, returned 
indignantly to their beds, and silence was restored. 

The face of the hall clock looked full of mischief, as the minute- 
hand swept round it, and old Time, as he stood with his scythe 
upraised at the top, seemed to be winking his eye at the bust of Momus, 
that ornamented the shade of the hall lamp. Round circled the hand for 
the fourth time since the uproar ; the obedient hammer proclaimed the 
fourth hour of the morning, when again arose those shrilly sounds ; 
again the hoarse voices were heard, " Ho ! — the larboard watch, ahoy!" 
three times repeated ; once more there was the rattling and stamping 
on the stairs, as the officers of the dinner party on the previous day, 



270 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

entering into the frolic of Captain S , ascended or descended with no 

very gentle tread. Sleep was murdered ; out bundled the landlord 
again; doors flew open ; vows of vengeance and denunciatory impre- 
cations were bellowed forth, like shots from a dozen masked batteries. 

A glorious breakfast was, by especial order, arranged in the sitting- 
room of Captain S ; and thither, about nine o'clock, assembled the 

Captain's guests of the day before, to laugh heartily at their night's 
spree. As soon as they had partaken of this morning meal, and had 
departed to their duty, the proprietor entered, and, with a countenance 
in which cunning and vexation were blended, he assumed a high tone, 
declaring that " he would not have his house — noted for its quiet and 
propriety — made the scene of such unseemly conduct." 

" My dear sir," answered the Captain, mildly, " you quite mistake 
the thing ; it is a universal practice that I have adopted, wherever I 
engage a suite of apartments ; I regret that it interferes with or incom- 
modes the gentlemen who honour you with their confidence ; but you 
must be sensible, my dear sir, that discipline is necessary in all well- 
regulated commands ; your own establishment, for instance ; " and he 
looked superlatively innocent as he shrugged his shoulders, and spread 
out his hands. 

" Really Captain S ," responded the landlord, somewhat fiercely, 

through mistaking the gallant tar's quiet demeanour, " I neither can 
nor will suffer such things ; my character ; the reputation of my house ; 
the comfort of my friends; " and he paced the room in fury. 

" Very — very sorry," returned the Captain, with perfect self-com- 
mand ; " it would be a sad pity for your character, as proprietor, and 
the reputation of your hotel, to sustain injury ; and I grieve still more 
for the annoyance of your friends ; but it is utterly impossible for me 
to break old-established regulations ; my men are so used to the thing, 
that my authority would be at stake if I were to discontinue it. I 
have hired your apartments for a month " 

" Merciful Heaven ! and do you mean to continue this hideous, 

odious noise for a month, Captain S ? " demanded the terrified 

landlord. 

"Hideous, odious noise, Mr. ?" repeated the Captain, affecting 

surprise and wrath, " do you call those harmonious pipings ' Hideous, 
odious noise' ? " He threw himself into a theatrical attitude, as he 
spouted with ranting vehemence, and advanced fiercely : — 

*' * The man that hath no music in himself, 

Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, 

Is fit " (he bawled out) " for treasons, stratagems, and spoils; 

The motions of his spirit are dull as night, 

And his affection dark as Erebus : 

Let no such man be trusted.' " 

" He is mad, moon-struck mad," muttered the landlord to himself, 
as he retreated before the menacing Captain, who followed him round 
the room. " Captain S , be pacified, I beg." 

" Hioeous noise, do you call it ? " continued the Captain, his sword 
half drawn, and fierceness distending every feature of his agitated face, 









JOLLY BOAT. 271 

as he brought the landlord to a trot — " hideous, odious noise, eh ? Sir, 

' This music hath crept by me on the waters, 
Allaying both their fury and my passion 
With its sweet air.' " 

" I wish the whistles were there now, with all my heart, Captain 

S ," said the subdued man almost out of breath, as he danced 

about the room. " Oh, do be calm, sir. Lord, what shall I do ? " 
(The Captain grinned.) " The music was charming ;— now do hear 
reason. I pray you to be calm." 

" Calm, Mr. , calm ! " repeated the Captain, rattling his sword 

against the table, and throwing his arms about ; " it is impossible to 
listen to such libels on sweet melody, and be calm. The rooms are mine, 
sir, for one month ; you will love the delicious Italian harmony of those 
pipes long before that time expires. You shall have a full concert of 

them, Mr. . I will speak to the Admiral, to favour me with 

every boatswain's mate in the fleet ; we must make shake-downs in 
the rooms ; oh, we will have glorious music — tickets issued — the 
ball-room full — I will act as leader ; " and pulling a boatswain's call 
from his waistcoat pocket, he began to blow close to the landlord's ears. 

"Come, come, Captain S ," said the master of the hotel; "I plainly 

see how it is, and must own myself outwitted. Pay me one week's 
rent for the rooms, and give them up ; I will ask no more, and you 
shall have a receipt in full." 

" Impossible ! " returned the Captain, with well-affected astonish- 
ment. " I care nothing for the money, Mr. ; my frigate will not 

be ready for sea this two months, and I must keep my apartments for 
the time agreed upon. But I hope you will get the great room ready 
for the concert ; thirty-six boatswain's calls, with a running accom- 
paniment of street-door knockers and scrapers ; every officer in the fleet 
will attend ; " and having ordered dinner for twelve, he sallied forth to 
superintend the re-fitting of his ship. 

Away went Mr. to consult his lawyer ; and he returned back 

with a long face, to hear the lamentations and complaints of those who, 
having been deprived of their natural rest, were only just quitting 
their beds. He next went to the magistrates, but they could afford 
him no assistance ; he had let his rooms, and they were no longer 
under his control, unless any breach of the peace was committed. 
The poor man was half crazed, for inquiry had elicited the information 

that a more daring, dashing mad- cap than Captain S did not exist; 

but still avarice and covetousness were the leading principles of the 
landlord's soul. 

At six o'clock, a round dozen sat down to an excellent dinner at the 
Captain's table. Champagne abounded, and the trembling Mr. — — 
saw the whole party in a fair way to become uproarious, without the 
slightest prospect of being able to prevent what he dreaded must follow 
as a natural consequence. The boatswain's mates had never left the 
rooms ; they had as much grog as they could drink ; the party reeled 
off to their beds, and the watch was regularly called, and relieved as on 
the preceding night. 



272 THE OLD SAILOR S 

The following morning the landlord again remonstrated ; he offered 

to forego the whole of the charge for rent, provided Captain S 

would withdraw his forces. But this he most resolutely refused; 
reiterated his promise of getting up the concert, and declared that the 
thirty-six boatswain's mates, were coming that very night to his rooms 
to practice. 

" I will not admit them, Captain S ! " vociferated the enraged 

man ; " I will not open my doors to them." 

" I do not expect that you will so demean yourself, Mr. ," 

remarked the Captain ; " they can open the doors for themselves ; 
thirty-six boatswain's mates, the finest fellows in the fleet." (He pulled 
out his call.) " Oh, it will be delightful 1 " 

Away started the landlord out of the room, more than ever convinced 
that the Captain was cracked, and well knowing that to attempt to 
resist three dozen boatswains' mates, let loose upon a spree, would be 
the height of madness. Back again he came, fear gaining the ascen- 
dancy over avarice. " Captain S ," said he, " my business will be 

ruiued ; I am already threatened with several actions ; my house will 
be deserted ; the London travellers will no longer make it their home 
during their stay ; several have already quitted for other hotels — what 
is it you require ? " 

"I require, my dear sir, I?" reiterated the Captain in assumed 
amazement; " I do not comprehend your meaning. I require nothing 
but the free use of my rooms, the exercise of an undoubted, undisputed, 
privilege. The thirty-six boatswain's mates will practice in this 
apartment." 

" Not if I can help it," returned Mr. , deprecatingly. " In a 

word, Captain S ," I will forego the whole rent, cancel your bill for 

the time you have been here, and give you and your friends a farewell 
dinner, if you will pledge your word of honour not to carry on your 
freak." 

" But the thirty-six boatswain's mates," said Captain S , doubt- 

ingly ; " I have promised them ten guineas, and " 

" They shall have it ; they shall have it ; " replied the landlord, in 
agony ; " only give me your word there shall be no disturbance. Dinner 
shall be ready at six o'clock, and the money shall be paid to your men 
up-stairs. Oh dear, I shall be ruined ! Keep away the confounded 
thirty-six ; or, if you prefer it, a substantial repast shall be provided 
for them at the adjacent public-house, where they may afterwards 
blow their insides out if they like. 

After some apparent reluctance on the part of Captain S , the 

proposal of the landlord was accepted, the dinners were given, the barge- 
men of the frigate personating the boatswain's mates, each supplied with 
a call ; and at midnight they assembled under the windows of the hotel, to 
give the landlord a last pipe, and three cheers, before they returned on 
board. Whether the proprietor was cured of his avarice I do not 
know, but certain it is, he never ceased to remember, even to his last 
moments, the Calling the Watch ! 



JOLLY BOAT. 273 



CROSSING THE LINE. 



For several days we had been laying in a continued succession of 
calms, broken only at short intervals by light and almost imperceptible 
airs, that carried the ship stealthily along towards the equator. The 
sails dropped listlessly from the yards, occasionally flapping against 
the masts, as the undulating swell of the sea gave them motion. The 
helm had no control, and the head wavered round to all points of the 
compass. The rain, at intervals, came pouring down in torrents, as if 
the windows of Heaven had opened, as in the days of yore ; and then 
the sun would shoot out his intense rays, bringing weariness to the body 
and a faintness to the spirit ; the vast ocean, like a burnished shield, 
threw off the brilliant reflections from the gorgeous luminary, dazzling 
to the sight and bewildering to the brain ; and, notwithstanding the 
awnings were spread, fore-and-aft, to screen the decks from the scorch- 
ing heat, both officers and men of a fine seventy-four were lolling 
about as if they did not care to stir a single limb. The afternoon 
came ; the sun was decending in the due west when the loftier and 
lighter canvass slept, though not a breath of wind could be felt below, 
and the feathered dog- vane clung round the staff; the ship stole 
silently through the water, and became obedient to the helmsman, who 
brought her to her proper course, and anxious whistlings were heard, 
as if by harmony to court the breeze. A piece of paper thrown over- 
board fell perpendicularly upon the glassy surface of the water, but in 
a minute or two had passed away astern, marking the progress of the 
ship a-head. As evening advanced her speed was accelerated ; the 
top-sails began to slumber ; the sea lost its look of brightness, and 
assumed a deeper blue, whilst white bubbles arose from the cutwater, 
and ranged away in mimic foam along the vessel's bends, leaving in 
her wake a long line to show the track over which she had recently 
passed. Then came the gentle breeze, sweeping above the bosom of 
the deep ; bracing up the nerves and invigorating the system, as it 
filled the heavy canvass that swelled to its delicious breathing. All 
was animation ; the topmen busied themselves aloft ; the studding 
sails were set ; there was a chattering under the bows, as the ship 
cleaved the liquid element ; the log was hove, and six knots reported. 
" Hold on, good wind," said the officer of the watch, " and before day- 
light we shall have crossed the line." 

It was a glorious night; and onward went the seventy-four, as steady 
and as majestic as the monarch of the waves. Early dawn was seen 
streaking the eastern horizon with its lovely light ; the seamen were 
preparing to wash the decks ; yet scarcely a sound disturbed the quiet 
of the hour. Suddenly a distant rumbling noise was heard, and a loud 
splashing in the water, like a shoal of grampuses at play. Soon after- 
wards, an indistinct utterance of voices seemed to be hailing the ship, 
35 



274 THE OLD SAILOR*S 

and in a few minutes a single, or it might be a double pair of lungs 
vociferated, " Ho, the ship ahoy !" 

" Hallo ! " responded the Lieutenant of the watch, through his brass 
trumpet, and every one stood still. 

"What ship is that? " demanded the voice. " From whence came 
you, and where are you bound to ? " 

" This is his Majesty's ship B from England, bound to Rio 

Janeiro," answered the Lieutenant. " Who are you, and where do you 
come from? " 

" Jist back your main-yard, and stop her way a bit, if you please," 
returned the voice, " for my sea-horses are getting rusty from good 
feed, and won't mind their helm. Stop her way, and you shall soon 
see who and what I am." 

The main-yard was squared ; the progress of the ship was deadened; 
and again, amidst much splashing and confusion under the bows, the 
same voice shouted, "Gee — wohoy — woay — wo; avast there, and be 
blowed to you ; can't you be still ? Heave us the end of a rope, some 
of you grinning lubbers upon deck; what are you all staring at? 
why, did you never any on you see a Triton afore ? " The rope was 
thrown. " Well-behaved, my lads ? now jump over here, one or two 
of you, and lend us a hand aboard." This request was also complied 
with, and presently a most uncouth-looking figure appeared, with half 
of his naked body above the bulwark, whilst the whole watch, and 
many who came stealthily from their hammocks, gathered on the fore- 
castle to see what was going on. A huge mass of sea-weed and 
twisted rope-yarns, formed a covering for the head, in the shape of an 
enormous wig, with a considerable length of pig-tail behind ; the body 
was covered with large fish-scales, that looked, however, very much 
like tin and pewter ; the arms were bare, but ornamented, as was also 
the neck, with sea-shells and pieces of rock-coral, all of divers colours ; 
the face, as much of it as could be seen, was of a dingy snuff-shaded 
red ; the eyes and features displayed a laughter-loving fondness for fun 
and mischief. 

"Here I am, your honour," said he, taking the forelock of his sea- 
weed covering between the finger and thumb of his left hand, and 
lugging it a little forward. 

The Lieutenant raised his hat in return to the salute. " And what 
are your commands with us ? " asked he. 

" I am a Triton, your honour, sent as a messenger by King Neptune, 
to welcome all hands of you to his dominions," answered the strange- 
looking being ; " and to say as he purposes to pay you a wisit, with 
Queen Hampertight, to muster the ship's company and claim the 
humbug (he meant "homage") of his subjects as have never crossed 
the equiknockshall line afore. And your honour knows as it's of no 
use to try and gammon him in the regard of the over-hauling, for here's 
a list of names as he expects to see, to do him soot and sarvice, as 
well to give a friendly hail to owld shipmates ; that is, I means 
friends and acquaintances." 

" And that's kind on him, too," said the boatswain, who just made 



JOLLY BOAT. 275 

his appearance ; " but I'm saying, my scaly blade, do you think that 
he'll recollect us all ? " 

44 No doubt in the world, Master Blowbellows," answered the Triton ; 
"you see as I knows you. But there's much in regard of the cut and 
shape of the figure-head, and yours arn't to be easily forgotten, anyhow." 

A most insubordinate burst of laughter followed this response, for 
the boatswain had about as ugly a countenance as any mortal would be 
glad to get rid of; and he slued round, mumbling to himself, " Ho — ho, 
that's it, is it ? All discipline hove to the devil. But never mind, my 
fine fellow, I'll pay you off for your joke before many dog-watches are 
out, never fear." 

When order was somewhat restored, the Triton handed the list to 
the Lieutenant (who had laughed as hearty as any of the rest), and 
again touching his sea-weed, he disappeared. There was the same 
splashing under the bows, the same " kim up " and " gee whoy ;" but 
in a few minutes all was again silent, the sails were filled, and the 
watch returned to their several duties. 

As soon as the decks were washed and dried, a spare topsail was 
triced up athawart-ships, to the after-shrouds of the fore-rigging, so as 
to conceal everything forward from those who were abaft ; the ham- 
mocks were stowed, and the boatswain's mate piped to breakfast. 
During the meal, the past and expected visits of the morning were 
amply discussed, and most terrific pictures were given to the uniniti- 
ated of the tortures they would have to undergo. 

The breeze had subsided to a light pleasant air, that just kept the 
sails sleeping ; the water was as smooth as a mill-pond, and the decks 
nearly as level as a paved yard. None but those who had crossed the 
line before were permitted to witness the first reception of the liquid 
deity, but exactly at four bells (ten o'clock) in the forenoon watch, the 
same distant hail was heard and answered ; the splashing and noise 
was much greater than before, and shortly afterwards the screen was 
raised, and the procession moved aft along the gangway. First came 
two Tritons, as avant couriers, with harpoons ; then followed the band, 
playing " Come, cheer up, my lads ; " and next were four other Tritons, 
two and two. To them succeeded the car (a gun carriage) of Neptune 
and Amphitrite, drawn by eight most unruly sea monsters, that caused 
the monarch to sit very shaky and unsteady ; his glittering crown 
tottering on his head ; and though his consort appeared to have been 
very recently close-chaved, yet there was something extremely main- 
topmanish in her look, and she had either an immense gum-boil or a 
huge hillock of tobacco in her left cheek ; but this latter article admits 
of a doubt, as ladies, especially Queens, never chaw their quid. Im- 
mediately behind the car walked the most important personage of the 
whole the Barber, wielding a long tremendous razor, gapped like a 
hand-saw ; and by his side was his mate, with a leather-brush and a 
bucket, half filled with a compound of abominations. Next appeared 
Davy Jones, on the back of one of his subordinates, both displaying 
sprouting horns on their forehead, and 

Such a length of tail behind." 



276 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

The procession was closed by Tritons and other aquatic attendants, 
in their proper, or rather, improper costume. 

The Captain received them on the quarter-d -ck, and after the usual 
compliments and ceremonials, they proceeded to a large tub of water 
abaft the mainmast, over which a piece of plank was placed for a seat. 
The first name on the list was called, and being brought up blindfolded, 
he was placed on the plank to undergo an examination by Davy Jones, 
whilst the barber and his assistant stood ready to shave him. The 
first question was relative to his birth and parentage ; and if the 
innocent dear opened his mouth to reply, slap went the brush, well 
charged, right into it, and this was repeated as often as he answered. 
The lather was then daubed over bis chin, and the razor roughly 
scraped a portion of it off; the plank was drawn from under him, and 
he was left to flounder out of the tub the best way he could, whilst 
numbers stood ready wuth buckets to repeat the dose as he ran from 
his tormentors. The shaving occupied three or four hours, and grog 
flowed in abundance till the whole ceremony was completed ; the decks 
were then cleared up, and the people indulged in mirthful recreation 
through the remainder of the day. 



CAPTAIN GAEDINER. 

How far Admiral Byng merited his fate is now — when prejudices and 
selfish motives can no longer prevail — pretty well understood, and justice 
is done to the character of a brave man whom injustice consigned to an 
ignominious death ; certain it is, he was sacrificed to party malice, and 
condemned to die for a crime of which a court martial acquitted him. 

In Byiig's engagement, Captain Gardiner commanded the Ramillies, 
the flag-ship, and became involved in the disgrace thrown upon his chief. 
He was afterwards appointed to the Monmouth, 64 (now I believe, the 
sheer hulk at Deptford), and, in 1758, whilst in the Mediterranean 
under Admiral Osborn, was employed in blocking up a French squadron 
in Carthagena. On the 28th of February, they fell in with four French 
men-of-war, consisting of Le Foudroyant, 84, and 800 men ; with a 64, 
a 50, and a frigate that had got out from Toulon to reinforce the ships 
in Carthagena. The signal was made for a general chase, and the 
Monmouth being an excellent sailer, was amongst the first up with the 
enemy. But independent of performing his duty, Captain Gardiner had 
another and most powerful motive to urge his exertions. The Foudroy- 
ant had carried the French Admiral's flag on the very day that Byng 
engaged Galissoniere, and, smarting under the imputations that had 
been indirectly cast upon him, he was constantly heard to express an 
earnest desire to fall in with the Foudroyant, declaring his intention to 
attack her, though he should perish in the struggle. 

During the chase, Captain Gardiner's anxiety to get alongside this 
formidable opponent was extreme ; an encounter seemed to offer a'con- 
soling balm — the Monmouth was fast gaiuing upon her colossal enemy. 
Nor was this gratification at all diminished when he found that he had 



JOLLY BOAT. 277 

far outsailed his own fleet, and should attack her single-handed. 
Addressing a land officer who was on board with him, he said, iv Whatever 
may become of you and me, that ship (pointing to the Foudroyant) must 
go into Gibraltar." 

At three o'clock in the afternoon he was rapidly drawing up with his 
old antagonist, and the hands were ordered on deck ; he spoke to his 
people in the energetic language of a seaman, and emphatically told them, 
'• That ship (the Foudroyant) must be taken ; she appears larger and 
above our match, but Englishmen will not mind that. I know you will 
all do your duty, nor will I quit her while the Monmouth can swim, or 1 
have a soul left alive to fire a gun." 

At four o'clock the Foudroyant opened her fire from the stern chasers, 
and soon afterwards the Monmouth got into action. Almost at the 
outset Captain Gardiner received a musket ball through hi< arm; but he 
took very little notice of it, and continued to animate his men by ex- 
hortations and example. The unequal conflict was extremely desperate; 
the English, prompted by the conduct of their brave commander, fought 
with a gallantry that had never been surpassed. After a contest of two 
hours, the Monmouth's mizen-mast fell, at which the French gave three 
cheers ; but their own mizen-mast falling shortly afterwards, the British 
returned the cheers with interest, which were renewed when in another 
half-hour the Foudroyant's main-mast came down. This infused fresh 
vigour into our brave tars, and their fire was so successful, and their 
guns so well pointed, that the French officers were unable to keep the 
people to their quarters. The battle had now raged four hours, when 
Captain Gardiner received a second ball in his forehead ; he immedi- 
ately sent for his first lieutenant, Carkett, and solemnly conjured him as 
a dying request that, "he would not give the Monmouth up or quit the 
enemy." The promise was given and faithfully kept, for whilst tne 
brave Gardiner sunk into insensibility, Mr. Carkett continued the baitle 
with invincible resolution till half-past twelve ; when the enemy was a 
complete wreck, her fire almost silenced, and the Svviftsure and Hamp- 
ton Court coming up, she struck her colours; but her commander refused 
to deliver up his sword, exept to the officer with whom he had been 
actually engaged. Captain Gardiner expired a few hours afterwards. 

The Foudroyant was one of the finest ships in the French service ; she 
had thirty French forty-two pounders on her lower tier, thirty-two French 
twenty-four pounders on her main-deck, and eighteen twelve-pounders on 
her quarter-deck and forecastle, with a picked crew of eight-hundred men. 
The Monmouth carried twenty-four pounders on her lower-deck, twelve, 
pounders on her main-deck, &c, and her whole complement was four- 
hundred and seventy men. The former had nearly one-hundred killed, 
and about the same number wounded : The Monmouth had twenty-eight 
killed, and seventy-nine wounded. This was certainly a most gallant 
action, and did great credit to all belonging to both ships, but particularly 
to the British ; the French fought with determined bravery, but the 
prowess of English seamen gained the mastery. The Revenge, sister-ship 
to the Monmouth, engaged and took LOrphee of 64 guns. The Ori- 
flamme, 50, was driven ashore and bilged, and the frigate escaped. 



278 TTIE OLD SAILOR'S 



L0L0N0IS THE BUCCANEER. 



"You are a vagabond, and no true traveller; you are more saucy with lords and hon- 
ourable personages than the heraldry of your birth and virtues gives you commission." 

Shakespeare. 



Amongst the Buccaneers Lolonois seems to have been a determined 
man, who went through many vicissitudes, of which the following may- 
be taken as a fair specimen : — His ship was wrecked upon the coast of 
Campeachy, his party was defeated, and he himself miserably wounded, 
was left for dead ; and the fact being well ascertained by the Spaniards, 
who not only saw his body among the slain, but also received assu- 
rances from the prisoners captured, that their captain was no more, that 
they sung '" Te Deum in their churches, and gave praise to God for 
their deliverance from so cruel a pirate ; and despatches, with congratu- 
lations, were sent to the Havanna and other Spanish ports, giving 
information of the event. 

On the Island of Cuba was a small town called De los Cayos, and 
some months after the above occurrence, two canoes, with twenty- 
eight men, under an experienced leader, came in sight of the place, 
apparently fully bent upon attacking it ; but, happily, the inhabitants 
obtained information of their design, and despatched a messenger to 
the governor at Havanna, to solicit assistance against the pirates, who 
they^ positively declared were commanded by Lolonois. The governor 
at first would not credit their assertions, for he had authorised intelli- 
gence, on which he implicitly relied, that the bones of Lolonois were 
bleaching on the shores of Campeachy ; but, as the messengers were 
extremely importunate, and there seemed to be no doubt that an attack 
was meditated, he sent a ship of ten guns, and ninety men well armed, 
with strict oiders to the captain " not to return to his presence till he 
had destroyed and rooted out the pirates, but to take their chief alive, 
and bring him to the Havanna, that it might be ascertained whether it 
was Lolonois or not." In order to facilitate the operation of extin- 
guishing the Buccaneers, a negro was sent on board to officiate as 
hangman. The ship sailed, and came to an anchor in the river Eastera, 
to protect the place. 

The pirates, though but few in number compared with the enemy, 
so far from fearing them, actually went in search of the Spanish ship. 
They seized some fishermen, whom they compelled to pilot the two 
canoes into the port, during the darkness of the night. They passed 
the ship about two o'clock in the morning, and being hailed by the 
watch on board as to " what they were, and whence they came ? " they 
forced one of their captives, upon pain of instant death, to reply, that 
" they were fishermen come in from sea." 



JOLLY BOAT. 279 

" Have you seen any pirates abroad ? " inquired the same voice 
from the ship as the canoes floated rapidly by. 

" No, Signor," replied the prisoner, who repeated the directions of 
the commander as he sat in the stern with a long barrel pistol pointed at 
his breast ; " the seas are quite clear." 

" Have you heard anything of pirates being off the coast under that 
dog Lolonois ? " again demanded the voice. 

The chief buccaneer uttered a low chuckle of derision as he urged 
the fishermen to answer " No, Signor, we have heard nothing ; and as 
for Lolonois, it is well known that he is dead ! " 

" Esta bueno," returned the Spanish officer ; " via ousted con Dios ! 
the villains have heard of our arrival, and have fled with terror, los 
Perros ! " 

The chief of the pirates muttered to himself, but having obtained a 
convenient distance, he prepared for the attack. It was just about day 
break when the canoes dropped alongside the Spaniard, and the men 
instantly rushed aboard and drove the enemy into their close quarters, 
from which they kept up an incessant fire upon the assailants, thinning 
their numbers, but so determined and desperate was the assault, that 
they were at length forced down the hatches, and surrendered. 

And now re-commenced the work of slaughter upon those who had 
thus far escaped death. The Spanish captain was first brought up, and 
as he faced the leader of the Buccaneers, he almost screamed the name 
of "Lolonois !" 

" Si Signor," returned the chief proudly, " I am Lolonois ; you know 
me well, for we have often met together, and now you shall do me 
ample justice on your blood-thirsty crew. Nay ! nay ! kneel not for 
mercy," for the Spaniard had fallen into an attitude of supplication, 
" I am Lolonois, who never received quarter and will never give it." 

Another officer was brought up ; his head was forcibly extended 
over the side, so that his neck laid upon the stout rail of the temporary 
bulwark, and a gigantic Swede with his arms bared, and a heavy axe 
poised in his hands, stood ready to strike. The poor victim tried to 
cry out, but the pressure on the rail nearly strangled him, and his 
entreaties for his life were more like the gurgling in the throat of a 
drowning man than anything else, and at the signal down came the 
axe, crushing the neck of the unfortunate captive : but it neither 
deprived him of existence, nor of consciousness ; he again tried to 
speak, but the blow was repeated, and after three attempts, the head 
fell overboard, whilst the bleeding trunk dropped inward upon the deck. 
Another, and another succeeded, to the great horror and sickness of the 
Spanish captain, who was nearly fainting, but Lolonois tendered him 
a goblet of wine, which the other received, hoping that it would be a 
gage of amity that his life should be spared. He raised the goblet to 
his lips, but withdrew it in disgust on finding that the liquid it con- 
tained was not wine, but human blood. The unfortunate man saw 
that his doom was sealed ; he dashed the goblet and its horrible contents 
upon the deck, reviled his victor in terms dictated by despair, and 
longed to have his sufferings terminated. 



280 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

" You thought me dead," exclaimed Lolonois, " but I am here, and 
determined upon retaliating vengeance. It is true I was amongst the 
slain, and wounded near to death ; but I was rescued and saved, and 
ere long will repay the deed upon my enemies ; and this ship, Signor, 
shall lay the foundation of my future revenge." 

The work of destruction went on till the Swede grew tired, and 
wished for some one to relieve him in his merciless office ; but the 
pirates, who had suffered greatly from privation, were carousing, or 
searching for money, and none seemed desirous to undertake the dread- 
ful task. At length, they brought up from among the prisoners, a 
brawny, athletic negro, who uttered the most doleful lamentations when 
he beheld the headless bodies, and dreaded that his own turn was come 
to undergo the same fate. 

" Tan, Massa, you please a lilly bit ! " exclaimed he, addressing the 
Swede ; " yer nebber for chop off my head darra way dis time — No? " 

*,' Why, it's hardly sharp enough," returned the Swede, passing his 
horny fingers down the edge of the axe, " to cut such a log of ebony as 
you ; but, never mind, I'll try to do my best, and, perhaps, at half-a- 
dozen strokes — " 

" Nebber, nebber, Saar," uttered the terrified black, trembling in 
every limb, as he listened to the Swede ; " Wharra for you killa me ? 
I nebber see de day for be sodger — I nebber see de day for be sailor ! 
Dey nebber send me for fight dis time nor nodder time." 

"Neither soldier, nor sailor, nor fighter!" exclaimed Lolonois, who 
had listened to what had passed : '* What are you, then ? " 

The negro, at that moment, forgot his captivity, and only remem- 
bered the office he held at the Havanna. He proudly raised himself up 
and responded : " Ky, Massa, you nebber know me ? Haugh ! — I be 
de haangman for de gobernur." 

Lolonois started at this announcement ; his quick and intelligent 
mind immediately saw through the design of the black being on board, 
and a flush of anger reddened up his features. " Oh oh ! " said he, 
" sits the wind in that quarter, does it ? You are the governor's hang- 
man, are you ; and sent hither to give us a cast of your office, eh ? " 

" Quien sabe, Signor," returned the frightened wretch, who perceived 
the anger of the chief, and immediately dropped from his exalting 
station : " Quien sabe — me only poor nigger." 

" But you are a public executioner ? Speak, sirrah ; or, Hermann 
split him down the middle," vociferated Lolonois. 

" Tan, Massa, you please," humbly returned the negro ; " Ponna 
ma honor, me tell you for true. Me haangman for de gobernur." 

" The public executioner of Havanna ? " demanded the pirate, in a 
voice of exasperation, and looking daggers at the Spanish captain. 

"Massa say so," responded the negro; "and him sabby ebery ting 
someting." 

" It is well," returned Lolonois. " Give him the axe, Hermann : he 
shall practice his craft upon his comrades, who would have hung us up 
like dogs. Take the axe, sirrah, and give us proof of your dexterity." 
He again turned to the Spanish captain — " This is even-handed justice, 
Signor." 






JOLLY BOAT. 281 

The trembling black took the proffered axe, and cast a stolid look 
upon the pirate chief, as he enquired, k * What me do wid him, my 
massa ? " 

In the midst of his indignation, Lolonois could not avoid smiling at 
the artfulness of the black, who pretended that he did not know to 
what use the axe was to be applied, although he had previously 
implored that they would not chop off his head. " It is merely to 
shorten your comrades, Mungo," replied the pirate. " They will be all 
the better for it in the end; and as you are a public executioner, 
you must be perfectly well skilled in such matters. Hand forward a 
prisoner ! " 

The negro saw that excuses would be unavailing. The next unfor- 
tunate victim was, strugglingly, laid over the rail, and the black was 
commanded to strike. He passed his hand over the edge of the axe, 
and then, addressing Lolonois, said, deprecatingly — " Tan you please, 
Saar, dey da comrade for me, and hearee me peak ; me haangman for 
de gobernur do your orders Saar," and he pointed with his chin to the 
prisoners. 

44 Do you refuse to obey my commands, sirrah ! " demanded Lolonois, 
in a loud and angry voice. 

*• No, my Massa," responded the negro ; "Me no 'fuse for obey — 
me cut off 'em head — but — but, spose Massa sharpen him axe lilly bit ? " 

Whatever were the motives for this request, it was granted, and 
blackey, in a few minutes, by the use of a file and a piece of stone, had 
given a keen blade to the instrument ; he then deliberately took his 
post, and very coolly performed the duty required of him, till not one 
was left but the Spanish captain, who stood proudly silent, though it 
cannot but be supposed that the terrors of death, dressed in its most 
fearful array, were operating powerfully upon his mind. 

44 Your time is come, Signor," exclaimed Lolonois, casting a meaning 
glance upon the headless bodies that laid piled in their clotted gore 
along the gangway, a hideous and appalling spectacle to look upon. 
44 1 know you well ; and you, had you been victorious, would, without 
remorse or regret, have ordered yon devil to sacrifice me and my 
people — say, is it not so ? " He paused for the space of a minute, but 
the Spaniard disdained to reply. " Silence I take as giving a full 
assent ; nay more, my men have found the very halters that were to 
be fitted to our necks. You are a husband and a father" — a convul- 
sive gasping seized the unhappy man — ' 4 the wife you love has pillowed 
your head upon a bosom that will never feel its weight again ; you 
have seen the last of your children — those pretty triflers who twine 
themselves about the sunny warmth of a parent's heart." The Spa- 
niard strove to be firm, but the artful mention of his family almost 
unmanned him. 44 You must die — those fond endearments must for 
ever cease — those tender ties be snapped asunder never to be reunited, 
unless — " and he paused as he keenly scrutinised the Spaniard's 
countenance. 

44 What ? " eagerly demanded the captive, thrown off his guard at 
the even faint prospect of being spared ; 44 name the conditions ! " 
36 



282 the old sailor's 

' " You mu>t swear upon this crucifix'*— and he held one before the 
Spaniard's eyes — "that if released you will describe this scene to the 
Governor of Havanna, and you shall have ample evidence to bear you 
out ; and tell him it is Lolonois whom he would have bound in chains 
and tortured, that sends you to say, from this hour he will never grant 
quarter to any that comes within his power. I know the orders you 
received, and you are forbidden to enter his presence unless you can 
report our utter extermination — your existence, and what is still more 
dear to you, your honour, rests upon the interview ; for you have been 
defeated by a handful of men determined to conquer or perish ; yet 
there is a chance for you — say, will you swear to do my bidding ? " 

"I will," returned the Spaniard, mournfully but emphatically; and 
seizing the crucifix, he uttered, " I swear upon this holy symbol to 
perform your bidding," and he pressed it to his lips. 

" Enough ! " responded the pirate ; and then calling to some of the 
men he commanded, " Here, haul up one of the canoes, and put these 
bodies into it— you shall not go alone, Signor." 

The order was obeyed ; the decapitated carcases were placed in the 
boat, and the Spanish Captain was directed to descend amongst them. 
He very naturally shuddered at such horrible companionship ; but 
nevertheless, there was a faint prospect that he might be saved, and he 
went over the hide. The canoe was about to be cast adrift, when the 
negro earnestly requested that he might be released. 

"No; noj" exclaimed Loloncis ; "you must remain with me. I 
have sworn to give no quarter to the Spaniards, and I shall require a 
good hangman to fulfil my oath." 

"Ah massa, him Gobernur nebber hab nudder haangman like me," 
remonstrated Mungo, never reflecting that in sounding his own praises 
he was sure to afford stronger grounds for his detention. 

" I know it, you are the very best of hangmen," responded the chief; 
" but you shall have your choice, either to add another body to the 
freight of the canoe, or to remain with me." 

'* Weil, me massa, ponna me honour me tan wid you," replied the 
black ; " but massa gie em plenny for nyam an plenny for drink, no ? " 

" Let go the canoe," exclaimed Lolonois, " the matter is decided ; " 
and the boat was soon floating with the current away from the vessel, 
whilst the birds who scented out the blood, hovered in flocks over the 
human remnants, screaming their discordant screams, and longing to 
commence the banquet ; nay, some of them were so bold that they 
descended upon the mangled flesh and tore it with their beaks ; nor 
could the efforts of the Spaniard drive them away ; indeed, they fre- 
quently darted down at him, as if they would destroy the only obstacle 
that prevented their quiet enjoyment of the feast. 

Lolonois had now a good ship, but only a few hands, and a small 
supply of provisions. However, trusting to his imposing appearance, 
he cruised for some time, and off Maracaibo he captured a valuable 
vessel laden with plate and money, besides a rich cargo in merchan- 
dise ; and then ho returned to Tortuga, where he was joyfully received, 
and his prize turned to good account. lie now equipped a small fleet, 



JOLLY BOAT. 283 

and captured a Spanish ship of sixteen guns, having a valuable cargo, 
which was landed at Tortuga, and he took the vessel for his own 
command. Shortly afterwards, they took another vessel with eight 
guns, and having on board 7000 lbs. weight of powder, and a great 
number of muskets, pistols, and swords, which completely fitted them 
out in arms and ammunition. They then entered the lake of Maracaibo, 
and attacked the city of that name, which they took, the inhabitants 
having abandoned it, and retired to a fortified place, called Gibraltar. 
This they also assaulted, and after some severe fighting, carried and 
plundered, committing atrocities disgusting even in brutes. The con- 
querors, thinking only of present debauchery and wickedness, gave no 
thought for the morrow, and provisions failing, they totally neglected 
the prisoners, who were starved to death ; in fact, Lolonois seems to 
have kept his word, for his rage was brutal in the extreme. On one 
occasion when marching against the town of San Pedro, he took many 
prisoners ; and questioning them as to the way they were to go to 
enter the town, they all unanimously replied that there was but one 
way ; wherepon Lolonois cut open the breast of one of the Spaniards 
with his cutlass, and pulling out his heart, began to bite and gnaw it 
with his teeth, declaring to the rest that " he would serve them all 
alike if they did not show him another way." After falling into three 
or four ambuscades, and defeating parties ten times his number, he 
succeeded in taking the town. The pirates afterwards separated, and 
Lolonois departed for the coast of Carthagena ; but his ship was totally 
wrecked near the Isthmus of Darien, and he was subsequently taken 
by the Indians, who, knowing his cruelties, tore him in pieces while 
yet living, and throwing his body, limb by limb, into a large fire, 
it was consumed before their eyes, and the ashes scattered to the 
.winds. 

The most famous amongst the British pirates was Captain Henry 
Morgan, whose adventures would more than fill a volume. At first he 
joined an old pirate, named Mansvelt, but soon obtained the supreme 
command, constituting himself admiral and chief, and granting com- 
missions to officers who served under him, forming: both an army and a 
navy. He attacked the largest cities and towns, which he plundered, 
and compelled the inhabitants to ransom them from fire, as well as 
themselves from death, at a great price. At Porto Bello he forced the 
priests and the women to advance in front of his troops, and place the 
scaling ladders upon the walls of the citadel, notwithstanding the 
heavy fire that was kept up against the assailants. He took this city, 
and set at defiance the governor of Panama, who had collected a large 
force to attack him, but did not dare to venture upon it. Morgan sent 
them word that " he would visit the governor before long at his own 
place." 

The successes of Morgan brought a great number of adventurers 
from Europe to join him, and many young men of good family, desirous 
of enterprise and wealth, placed themselves under his command ; and it 
appears, that though the government in England did not openly 
sanction the proceedings of Morgan, yet they did nothing to prevent 



284 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

them. Morgan's ship mounted thirty-six guns ; and a French ship 
refusing to join them, he seized upon her, but she was blown up by- 
accident, and three hundred and fifty Englishmen, as well as French 
prisoners, lost their lives. He next plundered Maracaibo, and the 
wretched population were most barbarously treated, in order to make 
them confess where they had concealed their money. " Among other 
tortures," says the historian, " one was to stretch their limbs with 
cords, and then to beat them with sticks and other instruments. Others 
had burning matches placed betwixt their fingers, which were thus 
burnt alive. Others had slender cords of matches bound about their 
heads till their eyes burst out. * * * These tortures and racks con- 
tinued for three whole weeks, in which time they sent out daily parties 
to seek for more people to torment and rob, they never returning with- 
out booty and new riches." They then marched to Gibraltar, which 
they found deserted, and burnt a poor wretch to death because he 
could not tell them where the inhabitants were gone. They took many 
prisoners in the woods, whom they tortured as they had done those at 
Maracaibo, but with still greater atrocity. 

His escape from Maracaibo was completely the device of a sailor. 
The castle at the entrance of the lake had been well fortified, and 
garrisoned, and flanked by two or three Spanish ships-of-war. These 
latter Morgan destroyed, and then by repeatedly sending canoes on 
shore filled with men, (who, however, were not landed, but laid down 
in the bottom as they returned,) induced the Spaniards to suppose a 
land attack was meditated, upon which they shifted their guns in the 
castle to the land-side. Morgan took prompt advantage of this, and, 
after dark, dropping out with the current unperceived, he came abreast 
the castle, where he spread all his canvass, and got clear off with but 
little injury. 

Being determined on attacking Panama, he collected a fleet of thirty- 
seven ships, wherein were two thousand fighting men, besides mariners 
and boys. They sailed from Cape Tiburon on the 16th of December, 
1670. They first took the Island of Saint Catherine, and thence pro- 
ceeded to Chagre, which also fell into their hands ; and from this place 
Morgan, with twelve hundred men, set out for Panama, but finding no 
provisions in their route, and having taken but little with them, they 
suffered most dreadfully from hunger, in a ten-days' march across the 
continent, till they came near Panama, where they obtained food, and 
the next day gave battle to the Spanish forces drawn up to oppose 
them, whom they defeated with the loss of six hundred men, besides 
wounded and prisoners ; but a great number of the pirates also lost 
their lives, so that Morgan's party was much reduced, yet he again 
attacked the city and took it, and it was afterwards destroyed by fire, 
and the place continued burning for a whole month. They had here 
a view of the South Seas, near which Panama stands. Morgan 
acquired great wealth at this place, and retired to England to enjoy it, 
where he was subsequently knighted.* 

I * A .jnger account of this notorious Pirate will be found in " The Lives and Actions 
of the most noted Highwaymen, Street Robbers, Pirates, etc., by Ontaiu Johnson." 






JOLLY BOAT. 285 

The conquests of Morgan induced others to follow in his track, and 
the South Seas became infested with large bodies of pirates, who, after 
pillaging wherever they could, returned overland to Chagre, where 
they embarked for Jamaica. The court of Spain made complaints to 
the court of England, but the latter asserted that they were no party 
to the transaction, which was solely undertaken by lawless men. 
However, fleets were fitted out, and cruisers sent in every direction to 
exterminate these marauders, but it was a long time before they could 
drive them away. In 1717 a proclamation was issued, offering a par- 
don to all such pirates as should surrender themselves within a twelve- 
month, for all the acts of piracy they might have committed before the 
5th January preceding. After the expiration of the limited time, the 
following rewards were offered upon the capture and legal conviction 
of a pirate : — For a captain, £100 ; any other officer, from a lieutenant 
down to a gunner, £40 ; for an inferior officer, £30 ; and any private 
man delivering up a captain or commodore of the pirates, was entitled 
to £200 on his conviction. In 1721, there was a daring seaman named 
Roberts, who commanded a fine ship, mounting forty guns, and having 
one hundred and fifty men, with two other ships of his own, under his 
orders, (one of thirty guns, and one hundred and thirty men, and 
the third of twenty-four guns, and ninety men,) cruised for a long 
time in the West Indies, levying contributions upon all nations, till 
the vigilance of the men-of-war compelled him to cross over to the 
coast of Africa, whither he was followed by Sir Chaloner Ogle in the 
Swallow, a fourth rate. Having received intelligence that Roberts 
was off Cape Lopez, Captain Ogle disguised his ship to look like a 
merchant-man, and stood in for the land. Roberts's large ship and a 
small one were well up the bay, careening for a clean bottom, but 
the other, mounting thirty two-guns, and commanded by a resolute 
fellow named Skyren, immediately gave chase to the Swallow, who 
appeared to run, till Captain Ogle had drawn him well off from the 
shore, so as to be out of hearing from the rest, when he shortened sail 
and brought him to action. Skyren bravely defended his ship for an 
hour and a half, but at last was compelled to surrender, himself being 
badly wounded. 

Captain Ogle, after taking possession, stood in for the bay ; the 
piratical colours, embellished with a fine death's head and marrow bones, 
being hoisted over the royal ensign. The other two ships had not only 
righted, but on seeing, as they supposed, their consort returning 
victorious, they stood out to meet him, for the purpose of congratu- 
lating Skyren on his conquest. But they soon discovered their mistake, 
for the Swallow on getting them under her guns, fired into them, and 
brought both ships to action. The pirates fought most furiously for 
two hours, as they knew it was life or death to them ; but Roberts 
being killed, they at length surrendered. Captain Ogle took his three 
prizes to Cape Coast Castle, when all the prisoners that survived, one 
hundred and sixty in number, were immediately put upon their trial. 
No less than seventy-four were capitally convicted, and of these 
fifty-two were executed, and their bodies hung in chains along the coast. 



286 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

Prompt and decisive measures at length put an end to Buccaneering, 
but the advantages derived from the practice permanently remained. 
These were, that undaunted courage which taught our seamen to des- 
pise a numerical force however superior to their own, and to bear up 
under every hardship and privation when the achievment of a particular 
object was desirable. Nor were these all ; they became inured to 
discipline, and quietly submitted to the frequently harsh and stern 
control of a man-of-war. Nor was marine architecture or navigation 
neglected, for as they required fast sailing vessels, the construction of 
their ships became ultimately of great consequence ; and their cruises 
in the South Seas rendered a knowledge of navigation indispensably 
requisite. Besides, it was principally through their means that we 
became so well acquainted with the coasts of America, both on the east 
and west shores ot the continent. 

The cities of New Spain now offer but few inducements to risk the 
hazard of plundering: in fact, they have so robbed one another, that 
in most parts they are wretchedly poor. But, for many years free 
traders, that is, smugglers, under the English flag, visited the South ) 
Seas, and not only did a smart business in the contraband, but also a 
little in the buccaneering line. These ships were fine vessels, mounting 
from eighteen to twenty-four guns, and well manned. They sailed out 
of Liverpool and London ; and I well remember two of them (the Kitty 
and the George Canning) who fought more than one gallant action with 
the guarde da costas. In the latter end of 1807, a South Sea man 
was lying at St. Helena, homeward bound, waiting for convoy ; but 
they had been catching something else besides whales, for the men : 
were plentifully supplied with Spanish dollars, as well as numerous 
little gold and silver images, stolen from the churches; and I saw 
many a Virgin Mary, or an Apostle, bartered for a bottle of rum. 



SAINT LOO AND THE BOSTONIANS. 



" cunning enemy, that to catch a saint, 
"With saints dost bait thy hook." 

It is well known that Massachussets Bay, in the first stages of its colo- 
nization, was occupied by settlers who had quitted the mother country 
on account of persecutions for their religious opinions, and it might 
naturally be concluded that persons thus situated, would be the last to 
exercise an intolerant spirit towards those whose doctrines differed 
from their own. But this was not the case ; on the contrary, no 
sooner had they gained stability by the attainment of power, than they 
became fierce persecutors, and whipped, imprisoned, or banished all 
whose consciences induced them to dissent from one particular creed ; 
and to such a length did they carry fanaticism, that almost every 
specious of pastime, however harmless, was rigidly prohibited as cri- 
minal ia the indulgence; and vice and amusement, placed upon the same 




c^hwCQ^M^K- 



7 ' ,///>,/ ///, . > ,;'/f.y.-,,y? 



'-.-. 



JOLLY BOAT. 287 

level, were punished by scourging. This was carried to the utmost 
extreme ; even music and dancing were denounced, and the penalty of 
the stocks and a whipping inflicted upon all who were found engaged 
either on the one or in the other. 

The town of Boston, about the year 1730, was greatly given to this 
species of frenzy, and the most rigid discipline prevailed, under what 
was styled " the covenant of grace " ; and amongst many absurd regu- 
lations for the preservation of sanctity, was a law, declaring that 
walking into the country or through the streets, except to a place 
of worship, on the Lord's day, should be punished by fine or 
imprisonment. 

It so happened that the gallant captain of an English frigate, lying 
off Boston, was on shore on Sunday, and he was immediately appre- 
hended by the constables, and put in prison till the next day, when he 
was carried before a magistrate, the fact proved against him that he 
was walking in the streets, and he was ordered to pay the fine. This 
he indignantly refused to do, and treated the exaction as most scandal- 
lous and- arbitary. The magistrate would not remit the decree, and 
the captain swearing that he would never pay it, he was sentenced to be 
clapped one hour in the stocks during change time; and this, without 
the slightest mitigation, was carried into execution. Captain St. Loo 
was, of course, very angry to be thus treated ; but his misery did not 
end here, for the grave magistrates assembled round him, and with 
earnest exhortations for his spiritual welfare, admonished him in future 
to reverence and keep holy the Sabbath day, and to respect the laws of 
the province. Reverend divines also crowded to the spot, and relieved 
each other in pious lectures, till the hour of confinement expired. 

At the first, the angry seaman indulged in invectives ; but to the 
astonishment of many, and the great edification of the crowd, he sud- 
denly became humbled towards the close, and, as if convinced by the 
earnestness of the preachers, he joined them in their prayers. They 
did not, however, abate him one minute of the prescribed time, and 
when he was liberated, he not only thanked the magistrates for their 
having so impartially and ably performed the duties of their office, but 
he also greatly humbled himself before the clergy, expressing his sincere 
gratitude for their spiritual counsel, which had brought conviction to 
his mind ; he professed himself deeply ashamed of his past life, and 
declared that he was now ready to put off the old man of sin, and to 
put on the new man of righteousness, and that he should ever consider 
them as instruments, in the hands of Heaven, of saving his erring soul. 

St. Loo was somewhat known in those parts as rather a wild slip of 
a seaman, and a determinedly brave man, who,, at different periods, had 
commanded several frigates, and behaved extremely well in various 
encounters with the enemy. Such a sudden conversion rejoiced both 
the clergy and laity ; it was considered nothing less than a miracle, 
and there was clapping of hands, and shouting, and gladness, as they 
embraced the new convert, and eagerly turned-to with fresh exhor- 
tations, which terminated in the most zealous amongst them inviting 
him to dinner. St. Loo accepted the invitation, and fared most 



288 



THE OLD SAILOR 8 



6uraptuously, whilst the pious divines eagerly pursued their good work 
of admonition and teaching. 

For several subsequent weeks, whilst the frigates remained in Boston 
harbour, St. Loo was the most assiduous of converts, and day after day 
he lived upon the fat of the land, at the tables of some one or the other 
of the elect, whose joy was so extreme that they held festival after 
dinner (as the number of empty bottles amply testified), and were not 
only lifted up by the spirit, but as frequently knocked down by its 
potency. The houses of the elect were constantly open to the captain, 
and their wives and daughters vied with each other in nourishing and 
cherishing such a handsome " babe of grace," receiving and treasuring 
the presents which he made them, accompanied by a brotherly kiss, 
which set their lips tingling for an hour or two. Parties were engaged 
to visit the ship, where he entertained them with the best he had ; 
there was a proposal to consecrate the stocks which had been the inno- 
cent means of performing such wonders, aud the captain was compared 
to Jonah and Paul, and was considered truly happy in his surname — 
Saint Loo. 

The honest and gallant seaman, however, had readily detected the 
most consummate hypocrisy under the assumed mask of religious 
fervour ; and also ascertained that the restrictions enforced upon the 
population proceeded more from the desire of the leaders to exercise 
authority, than any real wish to render the people truly pious. Per- 
secutions of the most aggravated and cruel nature were constantly kept 
up against all who exercised the rights of conscience and searched the 
Scriptures for themselves ; they were commanded to trust to no decla- 
ration of faith, except it was pinned on the sleeve of preachers under 
11 the covenant," who likewise arrogated to themselves the power of the 
civil magistracy. All these things were duly noted by Saint Loo, who 
enjoyed himself in their peculiar way, and was a welcome visitor at all 
hours amongst the fair sex. 

But this banquet of gratification could not last for ever. Orders 
were sent for the frigate to go to sea, and the gallant captain went 
round to bid his friends farewell. The men appeared sad at the 
thoughts of separation, though in reality they were glad to be rid of 
him ; but the women hung round the neck of their favorite, and wept 
upon his breast, and to the day of his departure the time was spent in 
regrets, professions, entertainments, and prayer. On that day about a 
dozen of the principal magistrates, including the select men, accom- 
panied Saint Loo to Nantasket Road, where the frigate lay in readiness 
for sailing. An elegant dinner was served up, and as " sorrow is dry," 
the wine circulated freely to moisten their clay, till the bowls and 
bottles were drained, and they drank toasts " five fathoms deep," to 
the honour of their patron saint — Saint Loo.» 

i There is nothing like generous wine — unless it is whiskey punch- 
to unmask the heart and show it in its true colours. The captain 
appeared to be fully sensible of this ; for, though he preserved his 
demureness of manner, he so plied his distinguished visitors with the 
juice of the grape and the rectified extract of the cane, that hypocrisy 



JOLLY BOAT. 289 

could not withstand it ; gravity — which somebody has defined to be 
" a mysterious carriage of the body to cover the defects of the mind," 
gradually gave way ; the jest, the song, the shout of revelry resounded, 
till the ship rang with the roar of their merriment. There were 
austere judges drinking out of their cocked-up hats ; there were reve- 
rend divines soaking their wigs in liquor ; men who scarcely ever 
raised their eyes in the street, were unblushingly chanting snatches of 
obscene songs ; in short, it was a terrible picture of debauchery. 

Just at this moment, when intemperance was at its height, a body 
of seamen rushed into the cabin, ready prepared with lashing, and in 
the twinkling of an eye the whole of the pretended saints were 
pinioned. Amazement and horror almost sobered them, the noise of 
mirth subsided into complaints, and on the captain commanding 
silence, each sat as mute as he well could. St. Loo then addressed 
them from the head of the table on the enormities and follies they had 
committed ; he upbraided them for punishing him for so small an 
offence as walking in the streets on the Sunday, whilst they themselves 
indulged their vicious propensities in secret, and were like whited 
sepulchres. He exhorted them, for the healthful state of their precious 
souls, to avoid lewdness, uncharitableness, and all ungodliness ; and 
after a long lecture, energetically delivered — during which the abashed 
select sat crest-fallen and malicious — he concluded, " Woe unto ye, 
hypocrites ; as ye have meted out to others, so shall it be measured to 
you again. Men, do your duty." 

In an instant, two or three stout seamen laid hold of each of the 
guests, and heedless of their cries, entreaties, and struggles, dragged 
them upon deck — it was yet broad daylight, and the unfortunate 
captives were horrified at beholding the whole ship's company assembled 
to witness their shame. Nor was this all, for upon a signal from the 
captain, the seamen proceeded to strip the delinquents— -and they 
were promptly seized to the quarter-deck guns. The boatswain and 
his mates, armed with their instruments of flagellation, the cat-o'nine- 
tails, took four at a time, and administered the law of Moses, secundem 
artem, with a far better will than ever they experienced on any former 
occasion, for several of the seamen had tasted of the discipline of 
Boston for being drunk ashore. There was no uproar, no confusion 
amongst the tars ; they went steadily on with their operations ; and 
vain were all the petitions, ragings, stampings, and curses of the 
floggee — the appeals for mercy were disregarded, and the captain 
mounted on the sky-light, affectionately admonished them, and uttered 
repeated assurances that he chastised them in perfect love — the 
infliction being consonant to their own doctrine, that the mortification 
of the flesh tended in an eminent degree towards the saving of the 
soul ; and therefore he should consider himself criminal were he to 
deprive them of one lash. 

It was a curious spectacle to witness the rueful countenances of 

those who were waiting for their turn to come round, and contrast 

their looks with the sly humour of the seamen, who silently and 

respectfully witnessed the correction ; for every thong was done in thp 

37 



290 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

most orderly mnnner, and when the former had undergone the whole 
of their discipline, which had flayed them from the nape of the neck 
to the hams, the captain tended his hand to them in brotherly regard, 
protesting that he had " inflicted the cat solely for their good," and 
then, in the most polite way imaginable, had them conducted to their 
boat, taking leave of them with apparent grief, and earnestly begging 
them " to remember him in their prayers." The boat shoved off — 
the seamen manned the rigging, and gave them three hearty cheers. 
The anchor was run up to the bows, and the frigate made sail for 
the West Indies. Captain Saint Loo lived many years afterwards ; in 
1745 he commanded the Princess Royal, a second-rate ; and two years 
subsequent he was placed on the superannuated list, with the rank and 
half-pay of a Hear- Admiral. He died on the 28th December, 1757. 



THE PREACHER'S HORSE. 

As the Rev. Mr. Brown, a methodist preacher, was riding through one 
of the wildest districts of Connaught, he was suddenly attacked by a 
savage dog, whose owner stood in the adjoining field, apparently enjoy- 
ing the fun, and hardening the dog with shouts and halloos. This 
was not the first, by many a one, of such annoyances that he had 
experienced from the same quarter ; but as they had generally been 
confined to the abuse of the tongue, or perhaps now and then a blow 
from a lump of turf, the good man quietly passed them over in silence, 
or only expressed his pity for the ignorance of the assailant. Had 
the attack on the present occasion been likely to have passed off with- 
out more personal injury, it is highly probable the old preacher would 
have gone on his way, as he had often done before, unnoticing his 
ignorant brutality ; but another actor was brought in, who completely 
changed the scene. At first the dog confined himself to barking and 
growling, galloping round the horse, and ever and anon approaching 
quite near, as if he would use the teeth he showed so plainly ; until 
at length, either prompted by his own savage nature, or urged by the 
encouragement of his master, he rushed silently behind the horse with 
the evident intention of fastening on his leg. The horse, however, 
was not one to suffer himself thus to be taken by surprise. He had 
been an old dragoon, and had fought at Waterloo and many other 
places, and had consequently learned something concerning the strata- 
gems of war. When therefore, the dog was just in the act of seizing 
his heels, the horse suddenly jerked out his hoof, and striking his 
antagonist in the middle of the skull, laid him dead on the highway. 
One bitter howl, a deep groan, with a hard convulsive struggle, and 
the fierce beast lay as quiet as the surrounding sod. 

The old preacher, not expecting such a fatal catastrophe, looked 
with a feeling of pity on the martyred brute, and was just about to ex- 
press his regret to the man for the accident which had befallen his dog, 



JOLLY BOAT. 291 

when he beheld him approaching with the most infuriated expression 
on his countenance, a large turf spade grasped in both hands, and 
evidently bent on taking the most summary and fatal vengeance for 
the loss of his dog. One glance at his face was sufficient to convince 
Mr. Brown that he had no time to lose if he valued his life, and, with 
as much coolness and promptness as any general ever displayed, he in- 
stantly decided on the most effective measures for his safety. It is 
true, he might possibly have escaped by setting spurs to his horse and 
riding off beyond the reach of his enemy ; but he knew that, if he suc- 
ceeded in this instance, he should be liable to renewed attacks whenever 
he journeyed that wav, and he therefore availed himself of the means, not 
only to free himself on the present occasion, bat also to do that which 
might put a salutary check on the man for the time to come. 

The horse, as we have said before was an old soldier ; and amongst 
the other tricks he had learned in the service, was one of assisting his 
rider in attacking the enemy. The old trooper who used to bestri 'e 
him in the day of battle, had taught him to rear up on his hinder le gs, 
and to strike with his fore feet, as well as very effectually to bite with 
a most formidable set of teeth which he showed to perfection. The 
horse and his rider had been for many years on most intimate teres, 
until the sagacious quadruped had become acquainted with his speech, 
and in many instances it appeared as if he really understood the lan- 
guage of his master. Of these peculiarities the preacher had become 
aware by accidentally meeting with the old trooper, who, less fortunate 
than his horse, had left one of his legs behind him, and he now availed 
himself of the habits of the animal to free himself from this imminent 
danger. The-red hot Irishman, boiling with rage, was within five 
yards, and in another instant the terrible weapon would have been 
buried in the head of the preacher ; when the latter, wheeling round so 
as to face his adversary, put the spurs to the sides of his horse, and 
shouting, " Go at him. Jack," soon turned the fortune of the day; for 
no sooner had the noble animal ascertained the will of his master, by 
the long remembered war-cry, than he instantly became animated with 
the most lively emotions ; a thrilling tremor ran through his frame, 
and, uttering a wild expressive scream, he instantly reared on his hind 
legs, opened his mouth, and, drawing back his lips, grinned fiercely on 
his astonished foe, and at the same time flinging out his forelegs so as 
to come within half a yard of the Irishman's head, he so terrified 
poor Pat, that, dropping his spade, he made but one leap across the 
ditch, and fled over the field as fast as if old Harry had been behind 
him. 

The old preacher, forgetting for the time his more sacred calling, 
entered into the spirit of the contest, and, amused by the- terrors of 
his former tormentor, determined to give him a sufficient dose to serve 
him for some years to come. Accordingly, when the poor Irishman 
had rounded a hill, and began to hope himself free from the terrible 
spectre, the preacher came suddenly upon him, and crying loudly, " Go 
at him, Jack," made his horse rear and plunge, and grin and 
fight, in the same dreadful manner as before. Away ran Pat, roaring 



292 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

for mercy with the lungs of a wild bull, and away after him went the 
preacher ; whenever he slackened his pace through exhaustion, up 
came again the dreadful monster, and as Pat thought, with the devil on 
his back, breathing flaming brimstone, and roaring, " Go at him, 
Jack ; go at him, Jack," till the sounds struck upon his ears with the 
agony of the accursed. In vain he attempted to go upon his knees, 
neither the horse nor his rider would listen to his prayers ; in vain he 
called upon the saints, not one took pity on him ; if he ran up the hill, 
or down the hill into the highway, or across the fields, it was just the 
same — the faster he ran, the faster the enemy bore down upon him ; he 
rushed into a thicket of young trees, hoping to screen himself from his 
pursuer, it was all in vain ; the tremendous creature came snorting and 
blowing, and crashing the trees at every bound ; he rushed into a river 
and tried to swim across — here also he was disappointed, for the horse 
leaped fairly over his head and stood on the banks ready to devour 
him ; he tried to dive, the horse rushed in, and he felt the fierce splash 
of the waters, and had only just time to creep -out and up the bank, 
when the animal was again upon him. " What will I do? what will I 
do ?" he roared out in the bitterness of his soul, as he cast his terrified 
looks for a moment behind him, and again saw the excited horse rearing 
and plunging, and breathing fire, and, as he thought, mad to devour 
him alive. Off he rushed again with redoubled speed, still more and 
more frightened, for as his nerves got more excited, so his terrors 
increased, and the loud tramp of the galloping horse, and the fierce 
shout of his rider, became every instant more and more terrible ; and 
nothing but the excessive terror of his mind enabled him to hold out 
so long, and to rush with such fearful rapidity from place to place. 
Any one that had seen him as he flew along, with his hair standing 
upright, his eyes half bursting from his head, his long grey coat stream- 
ing behind him, his hands stretched forward, and his whole frame 
quivering with agony, would have fancied him some lost spirit from 
the bottomless pit flying from his merciless tormentor. If he made 
towards a cabin with a view to take shelter his intention was antici- 
pated, and the terrible phantom was sure to intercept him ; every hope 
was extinguished, and, notwithstanding the desperate energy he had 
hitherto displayed, there appeared no chance of his ultimate escape. 
After the chase had continued for a length of time, the preacher began 
to think that poor Pat had had almost enough ; and as he had now 
circled round again till they were pretty near the place from whence 
they first started, and he was, in fact, within a stone's throw of his own 
home, he allowed the terrified fellow to proceed in that direction, 
and was not sorry to see him enter the door of his cabin, which was 
immediately closed with great violence ; and on the preacher coming up, 
he could hear the tables, chairs, and every other article in the house, 
being piled against the door, to prevent the entrance of the pur- 
suer. The old man smiled to himself as he noticed this fresh proof 
of the Irishman's terror ; and whether it was a smack of the old Adam 
that still lurked about him, or whether solely as a precautionary mea- 
sure for the future, to strike the lesson deeper home, it is hard to say, 




<%<£, A - ? 



JOLLY BOAT. 293 

but certainly there appeared some touch of roguish humour in the 
preacher's face, as, turning the horse's haunches towards the door, he 
once more said, "Go at him, Jack," and the horse, striking out his heels, 
shattered the frail barrier to shivers, and exhibited the terrified creature 
fainting on the floor. The sight at once awakened the humanity of the 
preacher, and he galloped swiftly to a neighbouring farm, whose owner 
he knew, and despatched such assistance as was necessary to recover 
poor Pat. On arriving there, they found his senses were restored, but 
his mind was fully impressed with the belief that he had been chased 
by the evil one on a fiery charger, who, but for the interposition of St. 
Patrick and the Blessed Virgin, would have devoured him alive. 



MACNAMARA RUSSELL. 

There are not many now living who can remember this brave but 
eccentric man. I recollect him when he commanded the old Vengeance, 
seventy-four, in the West Indies ; and one day he had invited a 
midshipman to dine with him, but during the forenoon watch the 
"young gentleman" had done something to offend against etiquette, and, 
on the complaint of the first lieutenant, the captain directed that the 
middy should be sent to ride the weather main-yard-arm for two hours. 

Now this sentence was carried into execution just one hour before 
the captain's dinner was placed on the table, and the youngster saw 
the savoury dishes carried aft, with a savage fierceness and a keen 
despair that made him almost wild. He had had nothing to eat since eight 
o'clock in the morning, and it was then near three o'clock in the 
afternoon. His tongue was becoming very parched in the extreme 
heat of the climate, so that he began to lament his hard fate. Whilst 
suffering these torments, he was hailed by the lieutenant of the watch 
on deck, and ordered to " descend immediately." Down he c<m3, and 
the captain's steward told him that dinner was waiting for him ; and he 
was not to stop and change his dress, but go as he then was. Without 
delay, the ravenous young reefer took his seat at the festive board ; not 
a word was uttered relative to his misconduct, so that he began to hug 
himself under the idea that he should enjoy his wine in comfort. No 
sooner was the cloth removed, than Captain Russell said mildly, 

" You were taking a spell at the main-yard-arm, Mr. eh ? " 

The abashed youngster replied in the affirmative, but felt satisfied, 
by the bland manner of his commander, that he had nothing to fear. 

" I hope you have dined well, Mr. ," said old Macnamara. 

" Oh yes, Sir ; thank you — excellent dinner, Sir — I was very hungry, 
very hungry indeed, Sir," answered the gratified midshipman. 

" Glad to hear it," said the captain ; " and as you have still another 
hour's penance to perform, away up to the main-yard-arm, Sir, till the 
time has expired. I shall not allow you to take wine for fear it should 
make you sleepy or giddy : — away up directly, Sir." 

The unfortunate reefer knew that it was in vain to plead. He 
resumed his uncomfortable seat aloft, where he was exposed to the 
ridicule of his messmates till the period of his punishment expired. 



294 



THE OLD SAILOR S 



JEANETTE DU1UND 

"a true tale of love and war." 



CHAPTER I. 



Whilst linns war, and battle for their dens, 
Toor harmless lambs abide their enmity." 

Shakespeare. 



It was soon after that eventful period in the French revolution, when 
the sanguinary monsters in power sacrificed every principle of religion 
on the altar reared by their own depravity and licentiousness, that the 
opulent city of Burges decreed the sacred festival next approaching 
should be commemorated with the utmost pomp and magnificence, in 
honour of the great Deity whose services had been desecrated and 
denounced by the Jacobins of Paris. And a truly splendid spectacle it 
was, as the procession, composed of several thousands of the inhabitants, 
proceeded to the Church of Notre Dame, to testify their adherence to 
the faith that was in them. There were the priesthood, in their 
gorgeous vestments, pouring forth their solemn chants, as they swung 
their golden censers to the breeze, dispensing a rich fragrance upon all 
around ; there were the authorities of the city in their robes of office, 
with bands of music and flashing banners ; there were the citizens, 
arrayed in their best attire, and redolent of nosegays ; there was age 
and childhood, high and low, rich and poor ; the craftsmen, with their 
costly emblems, and the guilds with their official staves ; figures of the 
saints and martyrs, in perfect mimicry of life and death, drawn upon 
platformed carriages, tastefully decorated ; and there were the English 
soldiery, mingled with those of Hanover, Belgium, and Prussia, in the 
varied uniforms of their country, in full military array, with colours and 
music to do honour to the occasion. But the most pleasing part of the 
long line of order was formed of two hundred young females, from the 
age of four years to sixteen, all dressed alike in white muslin, with 
long flowing sashes, and a chaplet of dwarf roses, on white satin, 
round the head. These had been selected from the most respectable 
families, and presented an assemblage of loveliness that has seldom 
been surpassed ; a resplendent display of youth and beauty, heightened 
by devotion. 

It was the early morning of a splendid day, and there was a delicious 
freshness in the air that tempered the warm and cheering rays of the 
glorious sun. The heart expanded with benevolence in generous 
resolves ; distinctions in rank were lost in the bond of nature's brother- 
hood. It was indeed a fitting season in which to offer fervent adoration to 



JOLLY BOAT. 295 

the Great Creator of all things. High mass was celebrated in all the 
churches with more than usual solemnity; the clergy vied with each 
other in manifestations of religious fervour, and the festival closed with 
public rejoicings, suitable to the sacred character of the declarations 
that had been made before the altar of the Supreme. 

I have mentioned the train of young females that formed a part of 
the procession, and now I must single out one from the rest, as more 
immediately connected with the narrative I am about to relate. 
Jeanette Berghaume was the fairest of the whole — her clear complexion, 
her large dark blue eyes, full of affectionate expression; her finely rounded 
shoulders, over which clustered in profusion her light silken hair ; her 
perfectly moulded frame ; her graceful figure — all these combined to 
render her an object of admiration, as with a sweet smile upon her 
bloom-touched cheeks, she moved silently past the throng of delighted 
spectators, who could not refrain from expressing their approval ; and 
from that hour the fair girl became a popular favorite, and was always 
spoken of in terms of warm regard. 

The father of Jeanette was extensively engaged in the linen trade ; 
her mother had a large establishment as a milliner and dress-maker, 
and both were highly esteemed and respected for the probity and 
uprightness of their character. They gave their daughter (and she was 
an only child) the best education the city could afford, which, assisted 
by her natural talent and quickness of perception, rendered her more 
intelligent than most females of her age ; whilst her sweetness of 
disposition and gentleness of temper endeared her to all. 

But ruthless war was spreading its baneful influences in the 
Netherlands; treachery, selfish ambition, inertness, and dissension- 
were busily undermining the cause of the allies. Prussia, whilst 
"receiving subsidies from England, was secretly negociating a dis- 
honourable peace with republican France ; Germany was aiming at 
aggrandizement in territory; whilst England, possessing ample 
resources to crush the revolution between its army in the north 
and its forces in the south, pursued a tardy and vacillating course, 
unworthy of a great and powerful nation. Had a bold and masterly 
policy been then promptly acted upon, millions of lives might have 
been spared, and £600,000,000 of the heavy debt which now 
overwhelms the industry of our country, would most probably never 
have been contracted. 

As it was, the allies were compelled to retreat, leaving Bruges to its 
fate ; and it was soon occupied by republican troops, whose atrocities, 
by way of revenge, were horribly fearful and cruel ; for the officers, 
having been principally raised from the ranks by the choice of the 
privates themselves, held but little control over the actions of their 
subordinates, especially as in most instances the superiors shared the 
plunder of the men, and but too often set them disgraceful examples 
of oppression and debauchery. 

The terror of the inhabitants was extreme ; a fine of four millions 
of francs was levied on the citizens, in which the religious festival was 
not forgotten, for the clergy were decreed to pay two millions, and the 



295 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

a ithorities one million of the whole. The work of devastation and 
slaughter was unceasing, and none felt it more than Johannes 
Berghaume ; his warehouses were plundered and destroyed, heavy 
exactions were constantly imposed upon him ; and as he had manifested 
more than ordinary zeal in the cause of the Royalists, he had but too 
much reason to fear that his life would be sacrificed to the implacable 
enmity of the revolutionary leaders. Fiight, therefore, was his only 
alternative; but the proposal, when made to him, was sternly rejected; 
nor was it, till repeatedly urged by his family and friends, that he 
reluctantly gave his consent, and took his departure, leaving his wife 
and daughter to make the most of the remaining effects, promising to 
inform them, as early as practicable, of his circumstances and locality, 
so that at a fitting opportunity they might follow him. 

Bitter, mournfully bitter, was the parting of the fond father from 
the home of his enjoyments; and hard indeed was the task of tearing 
himself away from the cliuging embraces of his attached wife and 
darling child, whilst a sick shuddering came over his agonised spirit, 
as he contemplated their unprotected state amongst wretches who 
scoffed at the restraints which law and justice impose upon society, 
and sought alone the gratification of their licentious passions, utterly 
regardless of all appeals to virtue, honour, or humanity. Laisson — the 
unprincipled Laisson — was there with his ruthless myrmidons, wbo 
were ever ready to obey his sanguinary and ferocious commands. 
Berghaume had indeed been marked out for death, and was only 
indebted for the postponement of his execution to the hope which 
Laisson cherished, that more gold could be wrung from him, under a 
prospect of having his life spared ; and this effected, the axe of the 
guillotine would soon have terminated his existence. 

The establishment of Madame Berghaume had closed on the first 
entry of the Republicans, and she disposed of what articles she could 
to any purchasers, in order to secure a supply of ready money. 
Jeanette, terrified at the atrocities which she herself had partially 
witnessed, kept in the retirement of her own apartment, and never 
went abroad ; the visiting of friends was at an end ; all were too much 
absorbed in their own peculiar afflictions to think of, or feel the 
sorrows of theii neighbours. A revolutionary agent had arrived, who 
spared neither s' x nor age ; the young men of all ranks were compelled 
to work at the canals and fortifications, or ascend the scaffold for 
decapitation — no one felt himself secure. 

Laisson had gained accurate information of the attachment of 
Berghaume to the Royalists ; and he was highly exasperated when 
he was informed that his victim had escaped. In the outburst of his 
rage, he hastened himself to the house, and traversed the apartments, 
directing everything to be destroyed ; but when the disconsolate 
mother and her weeping child knelt before him, and he beheld the 
extreme beauty of the latter, he checked his impetuosity, and his 
demoniac ingenuity resolved to inflict the deepest possible wound on 
the hearts of the parents by the debasement of the daughter. 

Thus determined, his manuer became changed — he countermanded 



JOLLY BOAT. 297 

his orders, complimented the ladies, and sought, by assumed kind- 
ness, to gain their confidence, for, with a vanity inherent as a national 
characteristic, he believed he might win Jeanette to his wishes by 
compliments and flattery. At first, Madame Berghaume's mind was 
much relieved by this sudden alteration ; but when, after two or three 
visits, maternal solicitude and watchfulness detected the object, her 
fears grew stronger, and she sunk with dismay from the consequences, 
especially as they had been denounced to the Revolutionary Commis- 
sioner, who was only restrained from taking their lives by the per- 
suasions and inducements of Laisson. Still the latter knew that this 
could not last long, and impatience getting the better of him, he came 
to the determination of putting the matter to the test. Accordingly he 
repaired to the house, saw Madame Bergbaume alone, stated the peril 
in which they were placed, professed the most ardent attachment for 
Jeanette, and then proposed the conditions under which he would 
afford them every protection. The agonised mother listened with im- 
patience and disgust, and yet she judged it expedient to temporize : 
the announcement had not come upon her unawares — she had expected 
something of the kind, and therefore was the better prepared with a 
reply. But Laisson was not the man to be easily deceived ; he saw 
bitter repugnance in the mother's looks, and he imperatively de- 
manded to see Jeanette. She was called — similar statemen ts were 
made to her, but she had been forewarned ; he addressed her in softened 
accents of tenderness, but her quick intellect instantly penetrated its 
design, she was firm in her refusal, even beyond her mother's expecta- 
tions. Thus foiled, the brigadier at once threw off the mask, and 
declared that he would resign them to the fearful tribunal, and their 
crimes against the Republic could alone be expiated by a public execu- 
tion, the horrors of which he described in terms sufficient to appal the 
soul ; but Jeanette continued firm, and he therefore quitted them, 
resolved to carry her off secretly to his own quarters, and compel 
submission. 

Amongst the most devoted admirers of Jeanette was a young 
Frenchman, a native of Bordeaux, whose father owned and commanded 
a brig that traded along the coast, and frequently received and brought 
freights on account of Berghaume. Pierre Durand had repeatedly 
accompanied his father to Bruges, and sometimes remained for days 
at the residence of Jeanette. He was a plain, unsophisticated young 
sailor, manly and handsome in appearance, noble and generous in 
conduct ; and his attachment to the fair girl was so unbounded, that 
he would willingly, at all times, have perilled his existence to secure 
her welfare and happiness. Yet his love was unavowed : his adoration 
was firm, but it was secret and silent. Jeanette esteemed him as she 
would a brother ; and a stronger regard was creeping upon her feelings, 
so that, at the departure of her father, she expressed a wish that 
Pierre was with them to afford his aid in the time of trouble. 

And Pierre came — came too at a most critical juncture. As part 
of his newly formed scheme, Laisson pretended regret for his violence, 
and not only sent apologies, but in the evening some of his satellites 

33 



298 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

took presents for the mother and the daughter. Madame Berghaume 
and Jeanette were sitting clasped in each other's embrace, when these 
things arrived ; to avoid insult and rudeness, she sanctioned their being 
admitted, and Jeanette having taken a seat apart from her parent, the 
messenger was allowed to enter. This was the very point the 
scoundrels had in view — four or five men rushed in, and proceeded to 
perpetrate the premeditated outrage. The beautiful girl was torn 
from the arms of her mother, whither she had fled for shelter, her 
limbs were bound, her mouth muffled — all resistance was at an end. In 
vain the mother entreated, implored, and threatened ; fruitless were 
her struggles to release her child ; her cries, her tears, were alike 
disregarded ; there was no succour for them — her lovely daughter was 
borne away, and the wretched parent was locked in her apartment, 
where, overpowered by intense anguish, she sank upon the floor in a 
state of insensibility. 

The marauders congratulating themselves upon their success, had 
opened the door of the dwelling to depart with their victim, when 
several armed men opposed them. A desperate struggle ensued ; 
Jeanette was forced from their hold, and immediately released by one 
of the assailants, who assured her of his protection ; with eager delight 
she clung to his embrace, for the voice had told her that it was 
Pierre Durand. 

"Hasten, Jeanette," said he; "not a moment must be lost; you 
must away instantly with me.' 

" I cannot leave my mother," replied the terrified Jeanette ; " take 
me back to her, Pierre ; take me back." 

"And then both of you will perish," uttered the young man in 
agony. " I have rescued you once, Jeanette ; I care not for my own 
life, if I lose you. Those wretches are overpowered, but others are at 
hand ; this will be the only minute allowed you for escape. My 
comrades must seek their safety, and if you will it, I cannot but die 
for, or with you, Jeanette." 

" Oh ! do not talk so, Pierre," said the affrighted maiden ; " I will 
follow your counsel; indeed, I will." 

" Wrap this cloak around you, dearest," directed Pierre in a tone of 
unusual tenderness, as he assisted in the arrangement. " Pull this cap 
closely over your head ; conceal your female dress as much as possible. 
And now, comrades, are we safe?" A brief affirmative was the 
response ; for the villains, finding themselves overpowered, had 
resigned the contest, and suffered themselves to be bound by cords. 
The assailants then gradually dispersed, Pierre and his fair companion 
taking the lead, and after traversing several streets, they reached the 
abode of the mother of a confederate, and apprehensions of an 
immediate pursuit were at an end. 

" I fear I have done wrong, Pierre, in quitting my mother," said 
Jeanette, whilst her eyes overflowed with tears, " Oh ! what will 
become of her now ? " 

" One of you is thus far saved," replied Durand with emotion ; 
" and my best efforts shall be employed in endeavouring to rescue 



JOLLY BOAT. 299 

your mother. I arrived but this afternoon, and through one of those 
strange chances by which innocence is sometimes delivered from its 
enemies, I became acquainted with Laisson's design. My shipmates 
and a few friends were promptly assembled ; and Jeanette, dearest 
Jeanettc, this is indeed the happiest moment I ever experienced. Oh! if 
you did but know how proud my heart feels " — and he pressed her to his 
side — "if you could but be assured how much my very soul loves you ! 
but I will not take advantage of your tremour or distress." He opened 
a chest, and, taking out the habiliments of a mariner, " there Jeanette," 
coutinued he, " you must dress yourself in these. Nay, flinch not, 
dearest ; we are still surrounded by peril, and disguise will be 
absolutely necessary ; my fathers vessel is at Ostend ; once on board 
of her as part of the brig's crew, and all will then be well." 

" But my hair, Pierre ! my complexion ! " urged Jeanette. " Oh ! 
too much I fear there is no help for me." 

" Your hair must be cropped and stained, as well as your skin," 
said Pierre with some embarrassment, as he felt he was touching on 
delicate ground. " Indeed, indeed dearest, I would not counsel you 
unadvisedly ; but I have that stirring in my breast that tells me, if you 
will but comply with my requests, we shall soon be beyond the reach 
of persecution. I must leave you now, Jeanette, to do my best to 
preserve your mother. Summon the old woman when you wish it, 
she will tell you what to do. One parting embrace, dearest ; it will 
be the first in our lives. Oh ! " he checked himself, and straining the 
fair girl in his arms, he pressed a kiss on her cheek, her forehead, 
and her lips ; and the next moment she was alone. 

Pierre Durand returned with cautious steps towards the residence 
of Madame Berghaume. All was still and solitary in the street, though 
the sounds of drunken revelry and the shrieks of hapless victims, at 
times rose fearfully from the distance. Pierre lingered and watched 
before he ventured to approach the door ; but at length he did so, and 
was instantly seized by some of Laisson's gang, who, having heard the 
shouts of their comrades, had broken in and liberated them, and taken 
possession of the house. Without a moment's delay, he was hurried 
into the presence of Jeanette's mother, who, not being aware of what 
had occurred, instantly recognized him, and in frantic language called 
upon him to rescue her child. Pierre at once saw that to deny all 
knowledge of the lady would be useless ; he therefore availed himself 
of the advantage offered, and in mournful accents demanded what had 
become of Jeanette ? 

" They have torn her from me," exclaimed the agonized woman. 
" They have deprived the mother of her offspring ! Oh, Pierre, why 
were you not here to save her ? " 

" Would to heaven I had been !" uttered Durand, as he wrung his 
clenched hands together. " But whither has she gone ? who has 
perpetrated this outrage ? " He turned to the gang — " Countrymen, I 
am a Frenchman like yourselves." 

" No ; no !" shouted one of the party, " France disowns you ; 
you are a traitor. Come, come, comrades ; bring him along before 



300 THE OLD SATLOTt's 

the Brigadier. I've heard quite enough to satisfy me ; bring him 
along." 

" Why am I thus grappled with ? Of what do you accuse me ? " 
demanded Pierre. " I am no traitor, and will go fearlessly to your 
General. Surely he cannot, will not, sanction such uncalled-for 
violence. Allow me one word with this lad}% and I am at your 
service." 

" Sacre ! bring him along, I say," ordered the other, as he stamped 
his foot in anger. " A few turns of the thumb-screws, and he will be 
glad to make confession." 

" Oh! that I could resist even to the death," exclaimed Pierre, in 
bitterness ; " you should not find me tamely yielding to your force, 
but I am overwhelmed by numbers — " 

" As we were some two or three hours since," responded the leader 
of the gang. " I like your spirit, young fellow ; you may make one of 
iis, if you will but tell the Brigadier all about it." 

Pierre was silent, and he rightly judged that a public intimation of 
Jeanette's safety to her mother would but tend to increase the danger ; 
so bidding her farewell, he was guarded off by the soldiers to the quar- 
ters of the General, who, when he heard of the escape of the maiden, 
and was assured that the young man before him was a party concerned 
in it, burst out into uncontrollable rage. Laisson was generally a cool, 
calculating man, seldom indulging in outbreaks of temper ; but he had 
been stimulating his evil passions with wine, and the loss of both 
father and daughter maddened him to the extreme. 

"Traitor! villain!" vociferated he, as, springing up, he drew his 
heavy sabre from its steel scabbard, and then raising his sinewy arm, 
was about to become himself the executioner of the defenceless being 
who stood unshrinkingly in his presence. But the blow was arrested by 
the still stronger hand of the leader of his marauders, who exclaimed — 

" Citizen-General, he is a seaman, such as the nation is in want of; 
and, pardonnez moi, you know there are positive orders that every sailor 
who can be procured is to be sent to Brest, to man the fleet against the 
ships of England." 

" You have stayed my just vengeance," answered Laisson, returning 
his sabre to the scabbard ; " but, my friend, you are right — let the 
traitor live to do service to the state." 

" I am no traitor, General," responded Pierre with cool firmness. 
"I am a citizen of France, a native of the vine-clad hills of the 
Garonne." 

" How came you here to interfere in my concerns?" demanded the 
brigadier. " Who, and what are you? " 

" A seaman, who, at various times, has received favours from the 
hands of the citizen Berghaume," replied Pierre. " I arrived at Bruges 
but this day from Ostend ; and cherishing sentiments of gratitude, I 
went to visit my generous benefactor." 

" You went at an unlucky moment, my friend," said the man who 
had seized him. " Prevarication is useless, I should know you from a 
thousand." 



JOLLY BOAT. 301 

" What proofs have you ?" demanded Pierre. " I presume, Citizen- 
General, you will not inflict punishment without evidence of crime." 

" I was certainly very near doing so," observed the Brigadier more 
calmly; and if I find that you are deceiving me, you shall — but pro- 
ceed. Dubout — proceed to your proofs. 

The man, thus commanded, entered into a detail of the occurrences 
by which his plans had been defeated, and stated his positive convic- 
tion that Pierre was the individual who had rescued the girl. He had 
clenrly and distinctly seen him as he emerged into the street, and im- 
mediately recollected his person ; he had heard him speaking to 
Jeanette, and the peculiarly musical nature of his voice had at once 
betrayed him when they met again, the captives having become the 
conquerors. 

Laisson looked at one of the attendants, and gave a significant 
twirl with his fingers ; the man thrust his hand into his pocket, and 
brought forth a small curiousl} T -shaped instrument, whilst at a nod 
from the Brigadier two others seized Durand by the arms, and the 
first promptly applied the machine to the young man's thumb ; he 
then turned a screw to press the joint ti*l the blood spirted out from 
beneath the nail, and stood awaiting further orders. 

The General watched the countenance of his victim at each turn of 
the screw ; but though the torture was excruciating, yet they wrung 
but one groan from the heart of Pierre, and his features remained 
unchanged. 

" You will, perhaps, now confess that you were an agent in the 
girl's release, and inform me where she is concealed," said Laisson, 
with perfect coolness. But Pierre continued silent, and resolutely 
looked the General in the face. A nod from the Brigadier, and 
another turn was given to the screw ; it brought the water into the 
sufferer's eyes, but no other indications of pain were evinced. Again 
the Brigadier waved his hand. 

" He is perverse, obstinate, contumacious," said he with quickness ; 
" you must indulge him a little further, citizen soldier. His percep- 
tions are not yet awakened ; his sensibilities want arousing ; to your 
office, my friend. Try the other hand ; or possibly he may wish a 
little relaxation. Will you obtain relief, young man? a few words 
will do it." 

"I am in your power, Citizen-General," responded Pierre, "and 
you may taunt me at your pleasure ; I have nothing to communicate, 
and if I had, I would not do so at the cost of honour." 

" You are determined then," remarked Laisson ; and Durand 
remaining silent, the General shrugged his shoulders, and added, 
" Pauvre garcon, I pity you ; mais, the fault is not mine. Laborde, 
you may proceed." 

During this time the man had been affixing a second instrument of 
torture to the other thumb of Durand, and turning the screw suddenly, 
the agony was so acute, that Pierre was near fainting ; but quickly 
rallying his energies, he once more stood firm. 

" It is painful — I know it must be painful," said Laisson mildly, and 



802 



THE OLD SAT LOUS 



looking at his own hands ; " what can the girl be to you ? come, get 
rid of this distress, and a few gold pieces shall repay you for your 
information. If not, the screw will bear another turn, and you will be 
gent to Brest." 

" Thus mutilated," replied Pierre, holding up his hands, whilst his 
sickening heart was sinking under the torture ; " I shall certainly be 
well able to do my duty to the Republic, whatever ship I may be sent 
to. You will not believe my assertions, and therefore it is useless for 
me to plead. I have committed no crime, as Heaven shall be my 
judge ; why, then, inflict this torture ? " 



CHAPTER II. 



" Sometimes hath the brightest day a cloud ; 
And, after summer evermore succeeds 
Barren winter, with its wrathful nipping cold : 
So cares and joys abound, as seasons fleet." 

SHA.KESPEAR-R. 



Incarcerated within the walls of the citadel, Pierre Durand passed 
the remainder of the night in excruciating pain of body from the torture 
he had undergone, but still greater agony of mind, when he reflected 
upon the unprotected state in which he had left Jeanette ; nor were her 
mother or his own parents forgotten. A heavy pressure of affliction 
had come suddenly upon him, and though he was a lad of great firm- 
ness and quick invention, yet the accumulation of so many misfortunes 
within such a short space of time almost overpowered his faculties. The 
dungeon-like place in which he had been thrust was tenanted by many 
more unhappy creatures, destined for the same service as himself — the 
hardy, industrious canal-men ; the crews of all the fishing-boasts and 
schuyts (a great portion of whom had fled from the coast of Ghent 
under a vain hope that they should escape the general muster) ; fathers 
of families tenderly loving their children ; husbands torn from fondly 
attached wives ; sons who venerated their parents ; brothers united in 
the firmest bonds of fraternal regard, each and all, with heavy hearts 
and bowed-down spirits, mourning over their calamity, and con- 
templating the dark future vvith sickly apprehension. Not a ray of 
light illuminated the spacious apartment ; a black gloom enveloped 
them, and loud w r ere the groans and imprecations that burst forth from 
the assembled multitude. 

When day-light came — oh ! what a scene of misery was there ! And 
yet the sun shone warmly and brightly ; the nice of the heavens was 
calm and clear, Nature was smiling and cheerful in her aspect, whilst 
those to whom the Creator had given understanding to love and enjoy 
His works, were crushed vvith a weight of wretchedness that rendered 



JOLLY BOAT. 303 

them incapable of noticing the glories by which they were surrounded. 
During the forenoon, the incarcerated mariners — more than three 
hundred in number — were paraded in the grand square, preparatory 
to marching ; other parties, of a similar description, were brought in 
to join them ; they were encompassed by a strong escort, and soon after 
noon they commenced their march. On emerging from the citadel 
the wailings and lamentations of relatives, kindred, and friends were 
heart-piercing and terrible ; nor could the bayonets of the guards, 
though unsparingly applied, enforce the continuance of silence — indig- 
nant anathemas, and hootings from thousands of voices, rose fearfully 
in the air as the mournful procession moved along through the streets ; 
and had a less forbearing man commanded the troops, many lives would 
have been sacrificed to the fury of the escort, who were, with difficulty, 
restrained from firing upon the people. Numbers pressed forward to 
take one farewell look — to bid one last adieu to objects dear to their 
souls, and whom they never could expect to see again ; and, though 
thrust violently back, struck, and even wounded, they still persisted in 
their endeavours to obtain a parting, and, as all believed, a final 
embrace. Thus they proceeded; and with them was the brave and 
resolute Pierre Durand. 

In the solitary loneliness of her humble apartment, poor Jeanette 
recalled to her remembrance the melancholy occurrences that had so 
hurriedly succeeded each other during the few days that had recently 
passed the destruction of her father's property ; his flight ; the break- 
ing up of her home ; the unprincipled conduct of Laisson — by turns 
occupied her agitated mind. And then her thoughts naturally reverted 
to the evident attachment and fervent devotion of Pierre, who now 
clung more fondly round the cherished feelings of her young heart — 
so closely allied is gratitude to love. As the night advanced, she 
became more and more uneasy at the protracted absence of Durand, and 
busy conjecture, with all its attendant tortures, deprived her of one 
moment's respite from keen distress. She was well aware that he had 
gone to try and save her mother, and at his departure hope prevailed 
that not many hours would elapse before they should be restored to 
each other ; but the time passed on, the night wore away, and still no 
intelligence of Pierre or her injured and distracted mother. Oh ! how 
trying to the mind, and how difficult to bear up against, are the agonies 
of suspense, when the heart, knowing its own bitterness and sorrow, 
can cling to nothing certain but misery ; and the poor girl experienced 
this to its utmost extent. 

The first faint light of early morning came streaming through the 
window of the room, and but too strongly enforced upon the conviction 
of Jeanette, the length of time that had elapsed since she had been left 
alone. Feverish and restless through the absence of sleep, and acutely 
alive to the situation in which she was placed, yet the poor girl did 
not want for firmness or intrepidity ; and now that the occasion called 
for the free exercise of both, she endeavoured to nerve herself with 
courage and determination equal to the task she was about to under- 
take. The sun ascended the heavens in gorgeous majesty, Jeanette no 



804 THE OLD SAILOll S 

longer hesitated as to what course she should pursue ; and therefore, 
summoning the woman of the house, she requested that all her beautiful 
tresses should be cut off close to her head. The aged female at first 
declined, but the entreaties of the poor girl were so earnest, that at 
length her solicitations were complied with, and the hair that remained 
was stained by some liquid to a dark brown ; her fair skin was changed 
in its colour by a similar process, and then arraying herself in a rough 
flannel shirt, jacket, and trousers, blue worsted stockings, heavy shoes, 
with large buckles in them, and a red woollen cap, no soul breathing 
could have detected under this disguise the interesting and lovely 
Jeanette Berghaume. 

The splendid luminary of day ascended higher in the heavens ; it 
reached its topmost altitude, and the agitated girl, having received no 
information, would not delay a moment longer ; she quitted her place 
of shelter, and was proceeding towards her once happy home for the 
purpose of ascertaining the fate of her mother, when on turning the 
angle of a street, she suddenly met the coerced mariners, who, under a 
strong escort were quitting the city, and among the leading division, 
she in an instant recognized her attached lover, Pierre Durand. To 
speak to him was impossible, as the guards rudely thrust every one 
away ; but she inquired of a bystander the meaning of the spectacle, 
and being apprised of its intent, the struggles in her bosom were for a 
few minutes most acute and painful. Unacquainted with the real 
nature of her own sentiments towards Pierre, she had been accustomed 
to treat him as a brother ; but recent events had shown her the true 
character of her regard, and now she loved him with a fervency that 
was quickly developed. The officer of the "escort observed a stripling 
in a sailor's garb looking on, and fancying that he must belong to his 
detachment, rode up, and commanded him to join the prisoners. The 
intuitive quickness of her sex took advantage of the mistake. 

*' I am no slavish cur," said she with boldness, " to be dragged into 
the service of the republic against my will. It is true my years are 
few, but that will be amended in the course of time. No, no, monsieur ; 
if I go at all it must be as a volunteer ; and that I am ready to do 
should you not consider me too young." 

k ' Bravely spoken, my lad," exclaimed the officer ; " I like your 
humour, and will give it play ; you have a stout heart in your little 
frame. Come then, young Samson, if you wish it, and according to 
your behaviour so shall you be free from restraint ; they must want 
boys as well as men." 

For an instant Jeanette remained irresolute — the thoughts of her 
mother rushed upon her rememberance. But love prevailed, and 
springing forward with alacrity, the murmurs and disapprobation of 
the crowd never reached her ears. But as they proceeded forwards, 
and the city faded gradually from the view, often she turned with 
melancholy feelings — home, parent, kindred, she was leaving all, even 
the place of her nativity, and future prospects of enjoyments she had 
none. Many fervent but secret prayers were breathed, grateful praises 
for past mercies were hymned in her heart ; she had escaped the 



JOLLY BOAT. 305 

wretch who would have destroyed her, and she determined unknown, 
to alleviate, so far as she was permitted, the distresses of her deliverer. 

It had been in the first instance proposed to send the men by the 
canal to Ostend, and from thence to coast it along shore ; but this 
mode was deemed so precarious, and raised so many objections, that it 
was abandoned, and as many seamen had been collected at the small 
seaports near their route, it was determined to march by land, 
accumulating as they proceeded. 

Jeanette remained in perfect possession of liberty ; her youth and 
her pleasing manners won upon the rugged dispositions of the soldiers, 
and she contrived by several little acts of attention, to secure the favor 
of the officer in command. The first night's halt afforded them but 
short time for rest, and even that was on the floor of a dirty building, 
in a dilapidated state, that had been used for temporary barracks, 
without even straw to lay upon or food to eat, and many were the 
aching hearts that were bowed down beneath the pressure of affliction ; 
that of Pierre Durand was almost bursting. The freedom enjoyed by 
Jeanette was not abridged upon the halt, and as she was supplied with 
rations, her best endeavours were employed to get some portion to her 
lover ; but this she found to be impracticable, for, though availing 
herself of opportunity afforded to traverse the building, yet nowhere 
could she discover Pierre, for he had shrunk into an obscure corner 
by himself, to indulge in secret the anguish of his soul. After many 
ineffectual efforts to find him, Jeanette desisted, and sitting down apart 
from the rest, she gave free course to her tears. At length the 
idea struck her that perhaps her lover had eluded the vigilance or 
obtained the favor of the guard and got away ; a short time would 
solve this, and, overpowered with fatigue, she slunk into an uneasy 
slumber. 

At day-break on the following morning they were aroused by 
beat of drum ; and being told off in three divisions, the first set out 
immediately, and the second an hour afterwards, and the third an hour 
after the second. The first tap of the drum had awoke Jeanette, who 
sprang up and hurrying into the yard, she watched with intent 
eagerness the appearance of the prisoners as they severally emerged 
from the door. Nearly the whole had come forth, but Pierre was not 
amongst them, and hope beat high in her bosom that her conjecture 
respecting his escape was correct ; and so strongly did this increase, 
that she could scarcely restrain from an exclamation of delight, when 
all her rising joys were again thrown down as she beheld him pale, 
haggard, and miserable, crossing the threshold — he was still a prisoner. 
Jeanette would gladly have flown to his side, but a sense of the 
indiscretion of such an action withheld her. Nevertheless, she 
contrived to get near him, and proffered her little store of food. Pierre 
at first declined it ; but a manifestation of kindness is always active in 
penetrating the recesses of a grateful heart, and Durand experienced 
it ; he raised his drooping head to express his thanks ; their eyes met, 
and strong affection at once revealed the secret which the disguise 
itself confirmed. Pierre no longer hesitated j he took the ration which 
39 



306 THE OLD SAILOR*3 

had been tendered to him, and Jeanette, perceiving that she was 
discovered, pressed his hand, and separated from him. 

The young seaman was still marshalled in the first division that took 
its immediate departure, and with it went the seeming lad, anxious to 
communicate with Pierre respecting her mother, and her mind at 
times shrinking with alarm from the probable consequences of her own 
temerity. But Durand bore the marks of punishment, and the guards, 
without giving themselves the trouble to enquire into the causes, only 
looked upon them as evidences of a refractory spirit ; and he was too 
closely watched to allow of any conversation on points so nearly 
touching the safety of both ; yet they could see each other, and notwith- 
standing that many a bitter pang distressed the young mariner at 
Jeanette's exposed situation, still he was now convinced of her affection 
for him ; she was near to him on his march, and that, in itself, was a 
blessing. 

This day a scanty portion of provision was served to the prisoners 
previous to their setting out ; but before night the attentive girl had 
availed herself of opportunities afforded during their progress to 
purchase a few necessaries ; and soon after they had halted, and 
darkness began to spread its thick veil over the face of the surrounding 
objects, she cautiously crept to the side of the delighted Pierre, whose 
position she had already noticed ; and there where no eye but that of 
heaven to witness it, she was clasped to his heart — not a word was 
spoken, not a whisper was heard, for they had near neighbours vvho 
might be dangerous ! but in silence they shared the refreshment which 
Jeanette supplied. 

The building in which they were immured for the night had been 
a factory, but in the movements of hostile troops whc had alternately 
occupied it, the walls had been broken through, and roughly built up 
again, and every part was filthy. Some loose straw had been spread, 
but this gave rise to angry encounters, as many were desirous of 
scraping together more than the lion's share for themselves, till it was 
agreed to collect it in one heap, so that as many as could might be 
accommodated with at least a soft though somewhat dirty resting 
place. Pierre took no part in the contest, but he secured a small 
portion in a lone recess of the room ; and there, without one 
unhallowed thought or feeling, Jeanette's head was pillowed on the 
breast of the young mariner, and now for the first time she heard 
of the manner in which be had been captured ; his last interview 
with her mother ; the torture he had undergone with other parti- 
culars ; and though gratified by being thus together, their tears 
frequently ran down their cheeks, mingling in one stream. 

Thus, day by day, and night after night, they continued in the 
same course ; and though Pierre devised several means of escape, 
yet when he saw the extreme vigilance of the guards, and the exercise 
of their determined vengeance upon all who did try to get away, 
he became convinced of the impossibility of carrying it into effect, 
without endangering a life he loved far dearer than his own. By 
assuming a nonchalance and a sprightliness she could not feel, 



JOLLY BOAT. SO 7 

.Teanette was left at uncontrolled liberty, and some of the gen- 
darmes even treated her with kindness ; no suspicion appeared to 
be excited amongst them, and even the prisoners who had wit- 
nessed their attachment, placed it to the account of fraternal regard, 
which they revered too much to betray to those who had them in 
charge. 

At length they reached their place of destination — Brest ; and the 
seamen were sent on board the different ships of the fleet, Durand 
being drafted to a large frigate under sailing orders for the East Indies. 
Jeanette had never once contemplated the chances of being separated 
from Pierre, so totally unacquainted was she with the nature of 
maritime service ; and when the hour of parting came, she earnestly 
entreated permission to accompany him. But her solicitations were 
disregarded, and in the agony of denial her true character became 
revealed ; so that, at the moment when the wretched Pierre was forced 
away for embarkation, he had the additional anguish of knowing that 
the maiden he so ardently loved, was left alone among strangers — 
unfriended and unprotected. 

We left Madame Berghaume in her apartment, distracted by the 
accumulated weight of evils that overpowered her faculties — that apart- 
ment she soon quitted for one of a more humble nature to accord with 
her means — it was but little she had saved from the wreck of their 
property, nor indeed did the possession of worldly goods seem of much 
consequence to a mind bereft of all that was precious upon earth — her 
husband whom she tenderly loved, if he yet lived, a wandering and 
impoverished outcast — her daughter, whose affection had filled her 
breast with all a mothers fondness, had been torn from her arms by 
wretches who were utterly insensible to the precious sentiments of 
mercy or of pity, and she could gain no intelligence of her fate. These 
things tortured her spirit, and though prepared to quit her native place, 
now become the theatre of horrors to her troubled soul, yet she knew 
not whither to go as a place of refuge, and the fear which constantly 
haunted her of missing any communication from her husband by 
removing, bound her to the spot. Months passed away — time was 
rapidly growing into years, when sitting during the lone and chilling 
darkness of a winter's evening in the humble apartment which she 
occupied, some one entered, and by the pale glimmering light of a 
lamp, she beheld a youth whose mulatto-like complexion and dark hair 
spoke of warmer climes and sunny skies — he was in plain sailor's attire, 
and on being addressed, indicated by his actions that he was both deaf 
and dumb, but placing in her hand a token from her husband, she at 
once comprehended the object of his visit, and procured writing 
materials for further converse. But the youth shook his head—he 
was unacquainted with their use, and then commenced a series of signs 
and motions by which she at length understood that her partner was 
still living, and anxious for her to join him, though the place was at 
some distance, and there would be difficulty in getting to it. 

The agitated woman paid the utmost attention to everything ; and 
what was distance, what were difficulties, when compared with the rich 



808 



THE OLD SAILOR S 



delight when all would be surmounted, and she should again embrace 
her husband. This feeling, however, was damped and subdued when 
she called to remembrance the probable condition of her daughter, and 
tears — scalding tears forced their eager way down the pale cheeks of 
the bereaved mother. Still her path of duty was straight before her — 
obedience to Berghaume's summons she considered of paramount 
importance, as Providence had thus far appeared in her behalf, a ray of 
hope illumined her mind, that perhaps Jeanette — her sweet Jeanette, 
— might once more be restored to the longing bosom which had been 
the pillow of her infancy. 

The youth proffered his services to be her guide, and on the follow- 
ing morning they departed by the track boat for Ostend, where they 
embarked on board a chassee-maree that was bound along the coast to 
Cherbourg. But, notwithstanding the inclemency of the season, the 
vigilance of the British cruisers was too great to allow of any rapid 
progress — they were driven into Calais, and from thence the anxious 
wife and her conductor pursued their way by land. Sometimes sus- 
picions would arise in the lady's breast that she might be the victim of 
deception, but these were soon quelled when she experienced the 
constant respect and attention of the boy, who, in his way, endeavoured 
to converse with her on topics that were precious to her soul. By 
them she ascertained that her husband was under no restraint — that he 
was in good circumstances; but the lad knew nothing of any daughter, 
nor had he seen a young female with his master. 

Wearying indeed was their journey — sometimes compelled to pass 
the whole of a cold frosty night in the open air, seldom obtaining the 
means of conveyance, and often pinched with hunger— nature would 
have sunk under such privations but for the future prospect which 
cheered her up. The money she had saved was secured about her 
person, and she feared even to let her guide into the knowledge of her 
possessing it, lest it might prove a temptation too powerful for him to 
resist. At length, after numerous hardships and privations, after 
being imprisoned on the borders of La Vendee as suspicious charac- 
ters, and held in durance for many months before being liberated, 
they reached the department of Charente ; and a carriage being obtained, 
it was not long before they arrived at the fertile banks of the Garonne, 
where full summer, in its luxuriant fruition, was swelling the vineyards 
with the produce of the season. 



JOLLY BOAT. 309 

CHAPTER III. 



" When sorrows come, they come not single spies, 

But in battalions." 
" The miserable have no other medicine, 

But only hope." Shakespeare. 



We left Jeanette suffering intense agony, caused by the unexpected 
and violent separation from her ardently attached lover ; her sex 
revealed, and no relative, no friend at hand, to shield her in that 
dreadful hour of adversity. Thus the fair and beautiful girl, who had 
been so tenderly and affectionately reared under the genial warmth of 
a fond mother's love, was cast destitute upon the world's wide stage, 
without a home to shelter her, without a single hand outstretched to 
offer succour. The boat that conveyed the wretched Pierre to the 
frigate was still in sight ; and, clasping her hands together in all the 
bitter anguish of silent despair, she seated herself on the stone quay 
to watch its progress, though she could no longer distinguish the form 
of her lover. 

The French are proverbial for gallantry, yet they possess but little 
Df that deep, strong, deathless feeling in their attachments which 
characterizes a native of England; but they are not destitute of 
humanity, and though the sanguinary horrors of the revolution had 
greatly tended to deaden the softer emotions of the human breast, yet 
it would have been utterly impossible to have witnessed the keen dis- 
tress of the unhappy but devoted girl, without having the kindlier feel- 
ings of the heart excited. Numbers looked on and pitied her ; but 
none essayed to proffer help, or to soothe her mind with words of kind 
encouragement. Nor was she lonely in her sorrow ; there were 
many mournful partings between souls that were fervently attached, 
and loud and piercing were the cries and lamentations of those who 
were left behind ; but they dropped off, one by one, until poor Jeanette 
was left alone, and there she continued sitting, with tearless eyes, pale 
cheeks, and burning head, gazing on the ship that contained her last 
hope on earth. 

Evening was closing in ; the boats of the fl<-«t had been passing too 
and fro from the ships to the shore, and eagerly had she scrutinized 
all who had landed, under a hope that Pierre might be amongst them ; 
but the only result of her watchfulness was an increased sickness from 
disappointment, as she became convinced that he was not to be seen. 
The shades of twilight deepened ; one boat alone remained upon the 
shore ; it was a small skiff plying for hire, in which were two aged 
fishermen, and these Jeanette determined to address. It has already 
been said, that under peculiarly trying circumstances the fair girl 
wanted for neither firmness nor courage ; and though the suddenness 
of separation, and the subsequent solitariness of her situation, had for 
the time crushed her spirit, yet now her energies began to revive ; 



310 THE OLD SAILOR'S 

and, trusting to her disguise, she hurried to the boatmen, and enquired 
the name of the frigate which she pointed out, then lying in the outer 
roads, and was answered, " La Pique, bound for the East Indies, and 
to sail that night for her destination. Did he mean to go on board ? 
as no time was to be lost." 

The possibility of going off to the frigate had never once entered her 
thoughts after the stern rejection she had received ; but now a bright 
ray seemed suddenly ta burst through the gloomy darkness that 
surrounded her, a feeling of delight thrilled through her whole frame, 
a glow of pleasure re-animated her countenance, and, with the promp- 
titude of her nature, she responded in the affirmative, and paid her last 
coin as the price of her passage. It was a piece of gold ; for the 
boatmen, taking advantage of her inexperience, had demanded the 
amount as her fare, and the poor girl, without giving one thought 
relative to its exorbitance, readily delivered it into their hands ; and 
had it been treble the sum that was required of her, and in her power 
to pay, she would not have hesitated one moment, for fancy presented, 
amid the sunlight of happiness, the gratifying prospect of rejoining her 
lover, and becoming the companion of his life of peril. 

The light skiff danced briskly upon the waves, but as the tide was 
setting in, made but small progress towards the frigate. Night came 
upon them — a dark cheerless night, with gusty winds from off the 
shore, and poor Jeanette, when she found herself upon the waters with 
two strangers, covered her face with her hands to conceal the tears 
that ran trickling down. But the men heeded her not ; they were too 
much engaged in their avocation to attend to anything but their labour, 
for the frigate was yet some distance off, and not easily to be distin- 
guished from the other ships that were lying there, preparing for sea. 

Yet still, amidst the alarm which was naturally excited by the 
novelty, and, to female timidity, danger of her situation, she experienced 
the powerful influence of woman's love, that induced her to brave all 
so that she could again be near the object of her strong regard. 

At length they reached the outer roads, and the quick motion of the 
skiff, as it rode over the billows, operated upon the faculties of Jeanette, 
so as to cause a deadening and sickly oppression, such as she had never 
felt before, and induced her to think that her last hour was appi-oachiug. 
Still they neared the frigate, and she longed to be on board, that her 
latest breath might pass away in the arms of Pierre. 

Suddenly the boatman ceased rowing, and laid their oars across. 
" It is useless to pull any longer, my boy," said one of them, " we 
might follow her all night, and every minute would but increase the 
space between us." 

This was unintelligible to Jeanette. " I have paid you to take me to 
the frigate," uttered she, with assumed warmth, " and thither I expect 
you will convey me." 

" It is not possible, my lad," answered the man ; " the frigate's off — 
6ee ! there drop her sails, and she will be away with the speed of a stag, 
as soon as her canvass is spread ; we could never catch her, Jacques." 

" Never !" responded the other boatman, with energy ; " Nothing 



JOLLY BOAT. 311 

will stop her, short of the Cape of Good Hope, and perhaps, not then — > 
so, my boy, if you belong to her you are saved from that voyage at all 
events." 

" You do not mean that the ship is moving away ? " said Jeanette, 
inquiringly. 

" I do, though," replied the man who had first spoken ; " there ! she 
is sheeting home her sails ! — she will soon be on the wide ocean ! So 
that if you are not for some other craft— and as long as it is a good 
ship it must be all the same to you — why we must take you ashore 
again, but shall expect some additional payment for our trouble." 

Jeanette gazed with strong urgitigs of desperation on the receding 
frigate, and the fact came with stunning effect upon her mind. In 
vain she implored and entreated them to follow ; the men well knew 
the inutility of doing so ; but as premiums were given for lads who 
could be got for the service, no matter by what means, they hoped 
to make something more than their fare, by putting her on board one 
of the many vessels that were near to them. 

u There is a corvette close at hand that is getting up her anchor to 
follow the frigate," remarked the man who had been addressed as 
Jacques by his companion, " What do you say, my lad, to go on board 
of her ?— you may catch your own ship, and I have no doubt they are 
to keep company together." 

" This is indeed the truth," observed the other, catching at the cue 
given by his comrade ; " they sail under the same orders, and are both 
destined for the Mauritius; say but the word, and you shall be on the 
decks of the La Republicain in a few minutes." 

Jeanette was silent ; her heart was almost bursting, and it seemed 
to be but of little consequence to her as to where she went. Her 
earnest desire and the dearest hope of her heart, had been to rejoin her 
lover in the frigate. Both were, for a time, unhappily frustrated ; she 
heard what the men said, and it renewed a chance of their yet meeting ; 
but overcome by the sickening sensations that assailed her, she had 
but little power for inclination or decision. Pierre was gone, and any 
place of shelter must be a home to her. 

In the meantime, the men rowed towards a beauliful corvette, that 
slept, swan-like, on the water : they answered the hail of the sentiy, 
and having pulled alongside, one of them ascended the gangway to the 
quarter-deck, where he remained a few minutes, and then Jeanette 
was directed to come on board. She obeyed without hesitation ; the 
boat left her, and in one half hour from her entering the lovely craft, 
the anchor was at the bows, and they were running out through the 
goulet, or passage, bound to sea. Jeanette felt more relieved when on 
the deck of the corvette ; she still cherished a belief that, as the ships 
were to sail in consort, an opportunity might be afforded of getting to 
her lover, and she resolved to use her best exertions to keep up her 
disguise, and to exercise incessant watchfulness that she might not be 
detected. 

The night passed away in misery. It was squally, with showers of 
rain j she could not remain above, and was advised by an old seaman 



S12 THE OLD SAILORS 

to go below. She acknowledged her ignorance of every thing nautical, 
and the worthy fellow, taking compassion on her youth, conducted her 
to the between-decks, lent her a blanket, and as his services were 
required aloft, he left her to the meditations of her own aching heart. 
She crept into one of the berths, where she laid down upon the hard 
planks, but not to sleep ; the motion of the ship increased ; it renewed 
the sufferings she had already endured, but there was no escaping from it; 
all was pitchy darkness around her, whilst the creaking noise of the 
bulk-heads, as the vessel rolled, was most unpleasant to the ears. 

Poor girl ! what retrospective thoughts were hers ; and there was 
only one ray to cheer the gloom of the future ; scalding tears forced 
their way ; she wept, and it eased the pressure on her heart. Towards 
morning, the weather became fine and the water smooth ; her friend, 
the seaman, showed her the way on deck ; the fresh air revived her 
faculties ; she looked for the frigate, but it was nowhere to be seen ; 
and, on enquiry, she ascertained the cruel deception which the boatmen 
had practised upon her. The corvette had no connexion with the 
frigate ; the latter was destined for the East Indies, the former — one of 
the fastest sailers out of France — was bound upon a cruise off the Irish 
coast. The blow was indeed heavy ; " Mon pauvre Pierre," she wildly 
exclaimed, " may the God of heaven be your protector and friend !" 

"Your brother will be safe, my lad," said the kind-hearted seamen, 
mistaking the real object of her grief; " come, come, cheer up, and 
trust in old Christophe to see you well treated and well taken care of ; 
we shall make our fortunes yet, and Pierre and you will meet again, 
never fear.* 

How precious are the words of kindness to a bereaved and bruised 
heart ! Jeanette felt this most powerfully, and, grieved and bowed 
down as her spirit was, she was yet fully sensible to the futility of 
openly indulging an excess of sorrow. Already she had nearly betrayed 
herself, and nothing but the plain unsuspicious mind of the seaman, in 
supposing that she mourned for a " brother," had saved her from 
discovery. A secret but fervent prayer was offered up to the throne of 
Omnipotence for strength under her calamities ; the petition was 
answered, the tumult in her bosom subsided, her mind became calm 
and firm. 

As one of the lieutenants wanted a lad to attend upon him, Jeanette 
was appointed to the post, and after some experience, acquitted herself 
to the perfect satisfaction of her master, who treated her with generosity, 
whilst her old friend, the seaman, taught her many of the mysteries of 
the profession. The cruise was not very successful, but there was 
something extremely exciting in chasing and being chased. Sometimes 
they were driven, for security, back into port, and nothing but the 
excellence of her sailing could have preserved her from being captured ; 
but her commander knew all her admirable qualities, and she met with 
no English ship to equal her in speed. She had a good crew, and 
mounting two-and-twenty guns, was an extremely dangerous crusier 
against the commerce of England. 

Many months passed away, and Jeanette. though not happy, became 






JOLLY BOAT. 3l3 

more contented ; her duties were comparatively light, and her master, 
finding that his servant was superior to the general run of sailor lads, 
allowed her many privileges which she would not have otherwise 
enjoyed. 

It was in the delicious month of May, 1794, that they quitted 
port, alone, as an English West India convoy was then expected in the 
British Channel, and Admiral Villaret Joyeuse had sailed from Brest 
in the Montague, of 120 guns, with a large fleet, to intercept them. 
The Captain of La Republicain anticipated a glorious harvest ; and 
there was not a man of the crew who did not consider himself already 
possessed of a handsome fortune in prize-money. The morning of the 
24th broke upon them, but a dense haze hung upon the ocean, so as to 
prevent the possibility of seeing for a cable's length round the ship ; 
and, the wind being light, they could distinctly hear sounds conveyed 
by the fog, which indicated the near approximation of several vessels ; 
but whether proceeding from the French fleet, or the expected convoy, 
was a matter wholly unknown, though eager expectation excited 
sanguine hopes that it was the latter, and with the true gaiety of 
Frenchmen, they were calculating the worth of the vessels they 
intended to capture. 

The breeze freshened ; the sun arose higher in the heavens in 
gorgeous majesty ; the thick vapours were rolled away as a scroll, and 
a beautiful spectacle was presented to the eye, which, however, was 
anything but desirable to the heart of the French Captain, for the 
Republicain was in the midst of a noble fleet, composed of twenty-five 
sail of the line (seven of which were three-deckers), and four or five 
frigates. At first, on the clearing away of the haze, the commander of 
the corvette declared the fleet to be that of Monsieur Villaret, and he 
rejoiced in being able to join him ; but a very short time served to 
rectify the mistake. Up went the English colours on board the 
strangers, showing no less than seven admirals' flags; — it was the 
English fleet under Earl Howe. All chance of escape for the Repub- 
licain was cut off; her ensign floated for a few minutes in the air, but 
she was within gun-shot of two seventy-fours, and it was hauled down, 
never to be re-hoisted. Boats came alongside ; the prisoners were 
divided amongst the fleet ; the captain and lieutenants were sent on 
board the Queen Charlotte ; and Jeanette accompanied her master. 

On the quarter deck of that noble first-rate* stood the venerable 
commander-in-chief (then verging upon his seventieth year), with his 
first captain, Sir Roger Curtis, on his right hand, and his second 
captain, Sir Andrew Snape Douglas, on his left hand, whilst groups of 
officers were assembled near, to witness the reception which the 
Republicans, in every sense of the term, would have from His Lordship. 
Jeanette had beheld many imposing scenes in the men-of-war of her 

* The Queen Charlotte was launched at Chatham on the 15th April, 1790 ; his late 
Majesty, William IV., then recently created Duke of Clarence, christened her after the 
name of his royal mother. The fine ship carrying the flag of Vice-Admiral Lord Keith 
(red at the fore), caught fire by accident off Leghorn, March 17th, 1800, and was utterly 
destroyed ; Captain Todd, thirty-six officers, and between 500 and 600 men perishing in 
the flames. 

40 



314 



THE OLD SAILORS 






nation ; she had been on board Le Terrible and Le Revolutionaire, 
each of 120 guns, and remarkably handsome ships, but there was an 
utter want of discipline, both amongst the officers and men ; the former 
were extremely negligent of their persons and dress, and it was at all 
times difficult to discover the distinctions in rank; the latter were 
admitted to familiarity with the superiors, and but little care was taken 
to keep the ships or the people in that state of cleanliness and 
subordination which is so conducive to health and proper regulation. 
But here, in the Queen Charlotte, she beheld at once the most perfect 
order and etiquette prevailing; and instead of the noise and tumult 
which, on all occasions, might be heard in French ships, there was a 
quiet and a tranquillity amongst nearly 1,000 persons, that could not 
fail to strike the mind as something wonderful ; whilst the bright and 
clean appearance of all that was visible, bore a marked contrast to 
what she had been accustomed to in the French service. 

The captain of Le Republican and his lieutenants uncovered their 
heads as they advanced towards the veteran chief, who received them 
with much courtesy, removing his hat to their salute, so as to display 
the grey crown of glory that surmounted his brows ; but the French 
commander stepping forward before his officers, tucked his three- 
cornered scraper under his arm, and taking a massive gold snuff-box 
from his waistcoat pocket, tapped upon the lid, which he ostentatiously 
threw open, and held out to his lordship to take a pinch ; and this was 
done with so much of the grace, or rather grimace of a, petit maitre, as 
to raise the risibility of the lookers on, but more especially of the 
honest Jack Tars. But the Frenchman did not stop here ; for, in the 
coolest manner imaginable, he preferred a request to the commander- 
in-chief to restore him his corvette, remarking that it was " beneath 
the dignity of so large and gallant a fleet to capture a little craft which 
was entirely beneath their notice, while so large an armament as the 
grand fleet was at sea." 

A smile mantled on the cheeks of the venerable Earl and his sup- 
porters, as he declined the proffered snuff, and rejected the modest 
solicitation ; but they retired together to the admiral's cabin, and the 
squadrons having formed into three divisions and under a press of 
canvass stood to the westward, but finding, on the following day, that 
the prizes (for there were several) were an incumberance to the 
manoeuvres, they were ordered to be burnt, and Le Republican, 
notwithstanding the entreaties of her commander, shared the same fate. 

Poor Jeanette, from the descriptions that had been given to her, 
expected rough treatment ; but she was agreeably surprised to find that 
every kindness and consideration was shown to her, and the only 
restriction imposed, was confinement at night with the other prisoners 
in the hold, till they fell in with the French fleet on the 29th of May. 

The previous skirmishes to the 1st of June, and the glorious battle 
on that day, were fought and terminated successfully for the supremacy 
of the English flag; seven sail of the French line were taken or 
destroyed, and more might have been effected had every ship acted 
with the daring gallantry of the Queen Charlotte, or had a proper 



JOLLY BOAT. 315 

judgment and promptitude been manifested to pick up the disabled 
French ships when flying for shelter to their own ports. 

During the action the French prisoners were shut down below, and 
the pealing of the cannon fearfully shook their nerves. The rattling of 
broadsides is a terrible thing to listen to whilst the body is inactive, 
mid takes no share in the engagement. Nor were they sorry when the 
firing ceased, though sadly chagrined at the result. On the 13th of 
June, Lord Howe, with his prizes, anchored at Spithead, and the 
captives were sent on shore to prison. Jeanette was separated from 
her kind master, and finding that she was to be classed with some of 
the vilest characters that had been collected to man the French fleet, 
she disclosed her sex to an English woman ; and the authorities- being 
made acquainted with the fact, she was immediately removed from 
such unpleasant companionship, and, in her proper attire, received into 
the house of an officer's lady, to whom she told her eventful history, 
v. hich, on becoming more generally known, excited universal sympathy. 
A handsome subscription was raised for her, and by the first cartel she 
quitted England for Bordeaux, where, on her landing, her earliest 
inquiries were made for the family of Durand. Several of the name 
were pointed out to her, and it was three days before she gained a 
right clue to the parents of poor Pierre, who received her joyfully, 
heard her tale of sorrow, wept over her misfortunes, and would have 
readily adopted her as their own child. But she had yet another joy in 
store for her : though of Pierre they could tell nothing, and mourned 
for him as one already numbered with the dead, still, in the course of 
a short time, she had the unutterable delight of being clasped in the 
embraces of her own father, Monsieur Berghaume, who had, after 
many hardships and much persecution, recently reached that city, and 
through the aid of the Durands, commenced a mercantile speculation 
that promised to be successful. 

It would be utterly impossible to describe the feelings of the father 
and daughter at being thus reunited ; but neither of them forgot the 
amiable wife nor the tender mother, till at length Jeanette determined 
to go to Bruges in the disguise she had worn at sea, to ascertain her 
parent's fate, at the same time assuming to be deaf and dumb, under 
the expectation of being better able to escape conversations that might 
lead to detection. Need it be explained who was the guide of Madame 
Berghaume to the banks of the Garonne, where, a few hours after 
their arrival, they were joined by a husband and a father. The toils, 
the pains, the anguish of the past were forgotten, or only remembered 
to heighten present enjoyment. 



216 THE OLD SAILOI^S 



CHAPTER IV. 



" "We are fellows still 
Serving alike in sorrow : leak'd is our bark ; 
And we poor mates, stand dying on the deck, 
Hearing the surge's threat: we must all part 
Into this sea of air." Shakespeare. 



It has been already related that when Pierre Burand was forced from 
the clinging embrace of the agonized Jeanette, he was conveyed on 
board the frigate, which in a few hours afterwards sailed for the Isle of 
France. His keen distress may be more readily conceived than 
described ; the sorrows of his heart were indeed enlarged, and more 
than once, as the ship was running out of the roads, he contemplated 
slipping overboard, and trying to swim to the shore. But calmer 
reflection came to his aid ; the injuries to his hands rendered success 
very precarious ; the night was dark and gusty ; the sea was breaking 
upon the rocks ; the tide was setting out to sea, and the sweet soother, 
whose eye is ever open to shed a ray of joy even to the very depths of 
despair, illumined the gloomy recesses of his spirit : hope whispered 
the possibility of meeting again, and his mind grew more tranqui 1 . 
Had he known how near the boat containing Jeanette was to him at 
the time, he would not have hesitated for one moment to lower himself 
into the deep ; but with this fact he was unacquainted, and opening 
davlight saw them clear of the land. 

Pierre was a smart young seaman, pretty well acquainted with his 
duty, in which his father had taken great pains to instruct him, bat 
for some time after his being received into the frigate he was unable to 
do much, on account of the inflamed state of his thumbs ; at length, 
however, surgical skill effected a perfect cure, though the bruised and 
crushed members were much deformed. The frigate pursued her way, 
frequently chased by English ships of war, but escaping by superiority 
of sailing ; and having very important despatches, no time was lost in 
making captures, except when it was almost unavoidable, and then the 
greatest valuables were taken out, and, as no hands could be spared, 
the prizes were consigned to the flames. 

After a quick voyage they reached the island consecrated by 
sympathetic emotion, through the well known narrative of " Paul and 
Virginia." Pierre had become reconciled to his fate, and his alacrity 
and readiness rendered him extremely serviceable on several occasions ; 
but as it was evident he had been forced into the service, a strong 
prejudice prevailed against him, and no encouragement was afforded 
him in the way of promotion, though they were very successful in their 
cruises, and made a great deal of prize-money. Their stay in India, 
however, was not long ; a fast sailing ship was required to carry 
communications to the Directory, and La Pique was ordered home. 
She had again the good fortune to escape the English cruisers, and, 



JOLLY BOAT. 317 

richly laden, succeeded in reaching Brest. Off Ushant she was closely 
pursued by a British frigate, and a smart running fight took place, the 
latter pressing her very hard along the edges of the black rocks, and 
had any spars been carried away a decisive engagement must have 
ensued : but she would not bring-to ; and when running into Camaret 
Bay, the English frigate rounded under her stern, and poured in a 
raking broadside, which brought down the mizen-mast and maintop- 
mast ; but La Pique got safe under the protection of the heavy batteries, 
and the English ship was reluctantly compelled to haul off. 

The joy of Pierre at the sight of his native land was mingled with 
apprehensions for the fate of those he loved, and, never doubting that 
an opportunity would be afforded for visiting his parents, should they 
be still in existence, he earnestly longed for the moment to arrive when 
he should be held in their embrace. Often did he gaze upon the spot 
where he had last seen Jeanette ; and busy conjectures struggling 
■with anxious forebodings, sickened his heart, which still retained 
unchanged, undiminished affection for the fair girl. What his feelings 
would have been under a knowledge of her real situation, it is 
impossible to state. 

The frigate was rapidly refitted ; but not a soul of her crew were 
granted one hour's liberty on shore, fears being entertained that they 
would desert, and the scarcity of seaman rendering it necessary to 
keep all they could possibly collect together. It is true, expectations 
were held out that leave would be given, but day after day passed over 
in disappointment till the ship was ready for sea. The anguish of poor 
Pierre grew more and more intense as the cherished hope of his heart 
faded away. He had written to Bordeaux, but no letters of commu- 
nication had been permitted to reach their destination ; they were 
examined by the authorities and destroyed, and consequently the 
young man ( o ild obtain no answers. 

Goaded almost to madness, Pierre resolved on making an effort to 
escape from compulsory servitude, and to institute some inquiry relative 
to Jeanette and his own family ; he contrived during the darkness of 
night to swim ashore, and without much difficulty his purpose was 
effected near the spot where he had been forcibly separated from 
Jeanette. He remembered it well, for the occurrence had stamped it 
deeply on his recollection ; his pulses beat almost to bursting, and he 
sat down for a few minutes and wept. But energy was c died for ; he 
was clear from the frigate, and thus far was free. Still numerous 
perils laid in the way, and to be detected, without accomplishing his 
object, would not only involve disgrace and punishment, but also add 
greatly to the distress of mind under which he had so long been 
labouring. With caution suitable to the occasion, he sought a place 
to shelter himself till daylight, when he hoped, by a fabricated tale, to 
pass the gates. He had ofcen visited Brest before, and no .v drew near 
the residence of an old friend of his father's, when suddenly a patrol 
guard came full upon him before he could effect a retreat, and fhe 
serjeant immediately took him into custody. Thus his hopes were 
once more crushed, and the horrors he had anticipated, should he be 



318 



THE OLD SAILOE S 



retaken, seemed now about to be fearfully realized. The following day 
he was recognized as belonging to the frigate, and sent aboard to receive 
the punishment decreed for those who clandestinely abandoned their 
post. Happily for Pierre, however, the penalty was not carried to the 
full extreme, he was not chastised with severity ; but the failure of his 
enterprize, and the consequent results, very nearly deprived him of 
reason. In another week La Pique sailed for the West Indies, and the 
almost broken-hearted Pierre Durand again quitted France, without 
having obtained the smallest information of those who were so dear to 
him. 

At this time Victor Hugues was spreading devastation amongst the 
English colonies, which were incapable of resisting his force, and the 
French had a strong naval armament in the West India Seas. La Pique 
once more safely reached her destination, and anchored at Guadaloupe, 
then in possession of the Republican troops. Here she underwent a 
refit, and then went out on a cruise, but was driven for shelter by an 
English ship of the line under the batteries of the harbour of Point-a- 
Petre, from whence she manifested no disposition to come out ; and 
her formidable adversary, desparing of enticing her forth, left her in 
charge of as gallant a spirit as ever swelled in an Englishman's breast. 
This was Captain Robert Faulknor, of the Blanche thirty-two gun 
frigate, who repeatedly challenged the Frenchman to fight, but without 
effect ; the latter, however, got under way, but kept close to the land 
till the Blanche made sail away, and then La Pique having made every 
preparation for battle, and being superior in armament, slowly followed. 
The captain of the French frigate had determined to fight. The action 
commenced about midnight, the ships crossing each other on opposite 
tacks as they exchanged broadsides ; the engagement lasted five hours, 
during which the brave Captain Faulknor was killed, together with one 
midshipman and six seamen and marines ; there were twenty-one 
wounded. La Pique had suffered still more severely ; and in this 
gallant and well fought action Pierre Durand had ample opportunity 
to witness the dreadful havoc caused by war ; the French frigate's 
masts were swept away, and about thirty poor fellows went with them, 
never to rise again alive. No less than seventy-six dead bodies, and 
one hundred and ten wounded, were found in different parts of the 
deck, which was covered with blood and shattered limbs. Pierre was 
amongst the wounded, not desperately, but severely ; yet the heat of 
the climate rendered it doubtful whether many would recover. The 
ships anchored at the Isle de Saints to repair damages, and the prison- 
ers were subsequently sent to Martinique, and from thence to Jamaica, 
as but little reliance could be placed on an exchange upon parol, and 
it was not deemed advisable to strengthen the forces of the French in 
that quarter of the world. 

Pierre gradually recovered from his wounds, and his good conduct 
gained him the esteem of the surgeon at the Hospital, who indulged 
him in many privileges not generally conceded to prisoners of war. He 
remained two years in the West Indies, and then was sent to Eng- 
land, where he continued till peace restored him once more to his 






JOLLY BOAT. 319 

country ; he shipped on board of a vessel bound to Bordeaux, and, on 
landing at the quay, hurried hastily towards the dwelling of his parents. 
The gloom of evening had set in when he reached the threshold that 
had so often resounded to his footsteps in boyhood, and here he was 
compelled to steady himself by the door posts, his feelings utterly over- 
sow ring his faculties ; and in the midst of hope, a dread arose that 
something disastrous had occurred to the authors of his being. Nine 
years had elapsed since his departure ; he had heard no tidings of 
them — they might be dead, and he an orphan. But uncertainty was 
worse than conviction ; he knocked, and a stranger opened the door, 
one whom he had never before seen. He could not speak ; his tongue 
clave to the roof of his mouth, and he leaned against the wall and 
gasped for breath. 

Alarmed at these appearances, the female domestic called for help, 
and was answered by a voice that Pierre never had forgotten — in the 
midst of sorrow, pain, care, and trouble, it had always been well 
remembered, for the harmonious sounds were those which had soothed 
him in his years of infancy and childhood — allaying irritation, 
encouraging evenness of temper, and pouring upon his ear the sweet 
accents of tender and affectionate solicitude. It was the voice of his 
mother. Oh how deliciously did those tones steal over his senses, 
bringing with them delightful reminiscences of former days of pleasure- 
able enjoyment! The cry of the servant brought her mistress towards 
them ; but she was not alone, there was another with her, and as they 
approached, Pierre recognized the object of his heart's fondest regard — 
Jeauette Berghaume. The recognition was mutual, for love and nature 
are ever triumphant, and they were instantly locked in each other's 
arms. Pierre found his family labouring under the pressure which 
baneful war had brought upon the commerce of Bordeaux, as for a 
length of time none of their larger merchant-ships could put to sea 
without being captured by the English cruisers, and the small coasters 
were in constant hazard of falling into their hands. Still they were 
not in want, and held a respectable station among the community. 
Mons. Berghaume had been successful in his undertaking, aud though 
in some degree sharing the difficulties of the rest, was, nevertheless, 
comparatively rich. 

A more united and happy family than that which was now assembled 
there could not well be, and in a few weeks afterwards this happiness 
was increased by the marriage of Pierre and Jeanette ; and seldom had 
u handsomer couple been seen singing the contract that legally bound 
them together. The peace revivified the commercial spirit of the mari- 
time cities ; ships of burthen were promptly fitted out to load with the 
wines and brandy of the Garonne, and prosperity made an eager effort to 
rise from the pressure that had weighed it down. Peirre obtained the office 
of mate, with the certain prospect of becoming master in a short time, 
on board a large brig bound to Guiana ; but, previous to sailing, a 
change took place which marred their future prospects. The restless 
ambition of Napoleon, and the vacillating conduct of the English 
government, again involved both nations in war : men were wanted for 



820 THE OLD SAILORS 

the French fleets, and Pierre was forced to quit his home and his bride, 
to serve on board a ship of the line fitting out at Toulon, and from which 
in a few months he was removed to L'Achille, seventy-four, and made 
captain of her main-top ; and his wife, resigning all the comforts and 
tranquillity of home, was allowed to be with him. 

Thus they continued, occasionally getting under way for practice, 
and once or twice appearing outside of port ; but Nelson's keen watch- 
fulness deterred them from putting to sea, till, taking advantage of his 
temporary absence, Admiral Villeneuve quitted Toulon, and, being 
joined oft Cadis by a Spanish squadron, the well-known run to the 
West Indies took place, pursued subsequently by Nelson ; but the 
French had gained more than a month's start, and ultimately returned 
first to Ferrol, and afterwards to Cadiz, where the grand combined 
fleets of France and Spain were assembled. But Villeneuve was not 
allowed much time for relaxation ; he received imperative commands 
to go out and fight the English, and active preparations were made to 
effect this purpose, by rapidly refitting the ships, and obtaining fresh 
hands from whatever quarter they could. Troops were also embarked, 
and though the French and Spanish chiefs had no very great faith in 
those who were serving under them, and not much unanimity prevailing 
amongst themselves, yet refusal to obey was out of the question — they 
had a severe master to deal with. Still Villeneuve lingered till there 
was more risk for him in delay than in meeting the English. 

On the 18th of October, 1805, the combined fleets were ready; 
the ships unmoored, and Cadiz was alive with excitement. All the 
women were ordered on shore : but previous to their departure, they 
strove by every means within their power to inspire both officers and 
men with renewed martial ardour. Pierre parted from Jeanette with 
something like a melancholy foreboding ; but the latter contrived to get 
unobserved to the orlop-deck, where she exchanged her female dress for 
male attire, and then mingling amongst the crew, passed unnoticed as 
one of the new hands that had so recently joined. The following day 
the fleet sailed, and two days afterwards was fought the celebrated 
battle of Trafalgar, the events of which are a matter of history. 

L'Achille was attached to the squadron under Admiral Gravina, and 
was successively engaged with several of the British fleet. Jeanette's 
sex becoming discovered, she had a brief interview with Pierre, and 
then resolutely took her station in the fore magazine passage, to pass 
along the cartridges, whilst her husband was quartered on the main-deck. 
The roar and din of battle was loudly heard, but the casualties were 
unseen in the dark and remote recess where Jeanette stood, hoping and 
fearing as to what the fate of her husband might be. This uncertainty 
greatly affected her spirits, but still she attentively performed the duty 
assigned her, till L'Achille surrendered ; and then, the magazine being 
closed, she ascended to the lower gun deck, with the intention of going 
still higher, to join her husband. Here the horrible carnage and devas- 
tation caused by the fight were visible in every part — the dead and the 
dying, the wounded and the crest-fallen, mingled in promiscuous heaps 
amid the wreck of beams and spars and deck covered with blood. Jeanette 



JOLLY BOAT. 321 

shuddered at the spectacle, and tried at each natchway to get to the 
main-deck ; but every ladder was shattered or destroyed, so that there 
were no means of ascent. In a few minutes an intolerable heat spread 
itself over them, and cries of '■ Fire ! fire ! " rose above the rattling of 
broadsides and the wash of the waves, for the human voice in distress 
is peculiarly distinct whatever other noise may be heard. At first 
Jeanette was horror-struck ; a most horrible death presented itself, and 
she beheld every one running about as if in despair, or stripping 
themselves and leaping overboard. Self preservation urged her to seek 
for any chance that might offer itself for safety ; but then came fervent 
remembrances of her husband, whose life, if spared from the sea, she 
was well aware must be in extreme jeopardy, as, from his well-known 
activity and perseverance, she entertained no doubt he was strenuously 
engaged in endeavouring to extinguish the flames. 

Nor was she wrong. The sails and spars of the dismasted ship laid 
in confusion over the booms, and had become ignited through the 
explosion of some loose powder, and in a few minutes the conflagration 
spread with fearful rapidity ; so that in a short time the whole was 
enveloped by the destructive element, which speedily communicated 
with the ship itself, and burnt down to the main-deck. All those who 
could swim, or grasp pieces of wreck, committed themselves to the 
mercy of the sea ; but numbers perished, and poor Jeanette was nearly 
left alone upon the lower deck, almost smothered and blinded by 
smoke, and scorched by the fierce glow of the burning timbers. Several 
urged her to follow their example in divesting themselves of their 
clothes, and leaving the burning wreck ; but feminine delicacy revolted 
at the proposal, and she firmly rejected it, at the same time impressed 
with a melancholy conviction that Pierre must have fallen, or he would 
have tried to seek her out. None can tell the anguish which Jeanette 
endured both in body and in mind ; death seemed inevitable, and that, 
too, in so terrible a way, that shuddering nature recoiled from the 
contemplation, and the shrinking spirit trembling on the verge of 
eternity, courted immediate dissolution rather than prolonged existence 
in torture. Yet she prayed — earnestly prayed, that she might be 
saved, whilst an unnatural desire came murmuring round her heart that 
the ship would blow up, and her misery be thus terminated at once. 

Still the fire raged with greater fierceness ; the deck above her head 
had yielded to its fury, and several of the guns had come tumbling 
through, threatening to crush her with their ponderous weight. From 
this perilous situation Jeanette retreated to the gun-room port, where 
she contrived, by means of the rudder chains, to get on to the rudder head. 
The sea was tinged of a ruddy hue, and strewed with wreck, to which 
half-drowned beings clung with the tenacity of despair. The cannon 
of the hostile fleet still thundered forth with death-dealing severity ; 
the shots danced skipping over the waters, dashing up the spray, and 
many of the ships that had been engaged, laid grinding together, 
alongside of each other, totally dismantled — all spoke of bloodshed and 
devastation. 

At length the fire reached the stern ; and the crackling flames, with 
41 



322 THE OLD SaI-LORS 

their serpentine tongues, came hissing a short distance above her head. 
The lead-casing of the rudder-trunk began to melt, and the fused metal ran 
down upon her body, scalding and burning into the flesh. The love of life 
grew stronger in her bosom as the terrors of death drew nearer — delibe- 
ration was at an end — and, divesting herself of her clothing, she struck 
out, as well as she could, away from the ship, and having gained a space 
between them, her strength became exhausted. Something was 
floating near to her ; she seized it with avidity, and it partially bore her 
up, till a man, who was swimming, witnessing her struggles, brought a 
piece of plank, over which she threw her arms, and it well supported 
her ; though, at times, the long swell that was rolling into the bay, 
would immerse both beneath the surface. 

The boats from the nearest ships of the English fleet were busily 
engaged in picking up the floating sufferers, and carrying them, as 
expeditiously as possible, to where they might receive assistance. A 
boat from the Belleisle approached the fainting and shrinking Jeanette, 
and one of the bowmen stretched out his arms and caught her by the 
shoulders, raising her up a little way from the water. 

" Well, I'm bless'd ! " exclaimed the tar, " but this here's a comical 
man any how — with long hair hanging down." 

" Man ! " repeated the coxswain ; " hould on gently, Tom, any body 
may see it arn't never no man at all, but a woman. Avast, however — 
avast," continued the old seaman, stripping off his trousers, and leaving 
nothing on but his drawers, " we none of us should like for to go to 
have our own modesties shocked, Tom ; so slip these trousers on her 
afore you hauls her in-board." 

" And here's my shirt," uttered another, as he divested himself of 
that article ; " and take my jacket," said the third, handing it forward, 
so that Jeanette was promptly equipped by the worthy fellows, and 
taken to the Pickle schooner, but, shortly afterwards, was removed, 
with some of her still denuded countrymen, to the Revenge, seventy- 
four. The second lieutenant inquired why one was dressed and the 
rest in a state approaching to nudity, was apprised of the occurrence, 
and, without hesitation, conducted her to the ward-room, where she 

was introduced to the officers of the mess ; and Mr. P , speaking 

French with some degree of fluency, was able to explain all that she 
said. A collection of apparel was made amongst them, each contri- 
buting something — shoes, stockings, dressing-gowns, and shirts, which 
latter (being a dress-maker) she soon converted into tl e short jacket 
and petticoats, such as are worn in Belgium, and, with the help 
provided, she in a few hours made a very neat show ; and her hand- 
some features, though deeply marked by sorrow at the loss of her 
husband, were much admired. But the unhappy woman received the 
utmost respect and kindness from every soul. The second lieutenant 
gave up his cabin to her, and she lived at the ward-room table, seldom 
going out, and never for more than three or four minutes. 

The Revenge was crowded with prisoners, both French and Spanish, 
who had been clothed from the purser's stores; but they were continually 
fighting, so that they were obliged to be separated and confined at 



JOLLY BOA.T. 323 

different ends of the ship, with a strong guard of marines placed 
between to keep them apart ; and this, added to the hurry and confusion 
caused by refitting, as they best could, after the battle, and the gale 
which succeeded, kept poor Jeanette close to her quarters, where she 
employed herself improving her wardrobe from the presents which had 
been made to her. The occupation employed her mind from dwelling 
too intensely upon the loss she had sustained. She mourned him with 
woman's strongest love, and tears would frequently force their way. 

Six days she continued in the ward-room, and then issued forth to 
seek for some of her husband's shipmates of L'Achille, by whose infor- 
mation she hoped to ascertain poor Pierre's fate. The guard were 
directed to let her pass without molestation ; and she was not long in 
finding what she sought for : but, before she could question the 
individual, she found herself clasped in the warm embraces of a seaman 
who pressed her closely to his heart — it was Pierre, her own Pierre, 
unwounded and unhurt. It is not possible to describe this meeting : 
those who have generous sensibilities can picture the scene for 
themselves. 

Jeanette, after warmly expressing her gratitude to the ward-room 
officers for the kind treatment she had experienced, withdrew to join 
her husband amongst the prisoners ; for she well considered, that as he 
could not be admitted to the society of the lieutenants, &c, so it was 
her duty to conform herself to his fate, whatever that might be. Still, 
a screened berth was made for them in one of the wings, and her meals 
were regularly sent to her from the ward-room table. 

On the arrival of the Revenge at Gibraltar, a day or two afterwards. 
the Spanish prisoners were ordered to be dismissed on parole, by 
receipt from the Governor of Algesiras ; but by a mistake of the Port 
Admiral, and contrary to the directions of the Commander-in-Chief, the 
French prisoners were also discharged. They were landed on the 
neutral ground, and marched round the bay. With them went Piei 
Durand and his fervently-attached wife. Previously, however, 
quitting the ship, she took leave of the ward-room officers, and was 
deeply affected whilst expressing her gratitude for the kind and 
generous treatment she had received ; for some time tears choked her 
utterance, but at length she was more calm, and took her departure, 
praying for blessings on her friends of the Eevenge. Pierre, too, 
tendered his best acknowledgments. A purse, containing thirty dollars, 
was collected amongst the officers, and given to them to defray 
expenses on their journey home. 

I was in Bruges a few years since, and there I beheld Pierre and 
Jeanette Durand in the house of the Berghaumes, which, with other 
property, had been restored to the right owner. A young family 
surrounded them, and they valued present happiness by the test of 
former adversity. 



GREENWICH HOSPITAL ON EASTER MONDAY. 

The veterans of this noble establisnment are nearly swallowed up by 
the awful inundation of visitors during the holidays. On Easter 
Monday in the fair, the park, the town, and on the heath, chere have 
frequently been not less than two hundred thousand persons, male and 
female ; and the Greenwich Pensioners, in their deep marine blue, look 
like minor convolvulus, amid flowers of every varied hue. 

There, too, in their school-grounds, are those glorious lads to whom 
the nation must look up, as the future guardians of England on the 
ocean against the aggressions of foreign powers. — Yes : there they may 
be heard, some eight hundred of them, singing '• Rule Britannia." 
Every word can be heard distinctly from the summit of the Observatory 
hill, and as their young voices swell on the breeze, they seem to say, 

Oh England's my country, and dear is her name, 
But dearer, far dearer to me is her fame, 
And dearest of all, as the place of my birth, 
That halo of glory, her honour and worth. 

Yes, their youthful minds, acquainted with the renown of those who 
so ably sustained the supremacy of the British flag in former times, 
long to emulate their deeds of daring, in defence of those rights which 
their ancestors freely shed their blood to secure. " Rule Britannia" 
is not a mere song to them, and the energy of manner with which they 
give the last lines of each stanza, plainly evidenced that mind and 
spirit were both engaged in the cause of British liberty. 

I love my country, and loving my country with the warm fervour of 
an English heart, every faculty is aroused when I look upon those 
glorious boys ; and not upon them alone — their prowess has yet to be 
displayed — but close at hand are veterans who have served under the 
gallant chiefs of former days, when the names of Howe, Nelson, Duncan, 
and many others were as familiar in seamens' mouths, as the Bill, the 
Jack, and the Tom, of intrepid and jovial messmates. Within how 
small a compass is presented a spectacle that is well calculated to excite 
the admiration and respect of all mankind. The aged who have done 
their duty faithfully and nobly, and who bear about them their honourable 
scars, now enjoying the benefits arising from national gratitude, — and the 
bold aspiring youth imbibing instruction in the first rudiments of nautical 
art, determined that whatever changes may take place in naval warfare, 
his object must be to carry out that grand principle which proclaims 
" Britains never shall be slaves." 

To me, both old and young offer one of the most interesting sights 
of which England may be justly proud ; and visitors who take pleasure 
trips to their locality, wouid do well to cherish similar sentiments. 

I have some old shipmates in Greenwich as well as worthy friends, 
with whom it is a pleasure to spin a yarn of deeds and days that never 
will return. Can I for one moment suppose that the records of such 
veterans will not be interesting to general readers ? No ! as long as 
the name and character of the old English sailor is borne in remem- 
brance, so long must narratives of their courage and eccentricity be 
welcome to my countrymen. 



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